For Love or Money

<p><i>For Love or Money</i> was Tim Jeal''s first novel, accepted for publication in 1966 while he was still an undergraduate at Oxford. It is the story of temporary gentleman George, who lives as a kept man with Ruth, the older woman he stole from a wealthy peer, but whose relatively comfortable country life is threatened by his difficult relations with Ruth''s two sons.<br><br>''A first novel of genuine merit... Pointed and witty, with good dialogue and brisk backgrounds.'' <i>Evening Standard</i><br><br>''A subtle five finger exercise... A beautifully complex and compassionate creation.'' Francis King, <i>Sunday Telegraph</i><br><br>''Harshly uncompromising... The action screws together with an engineer''s precision, but Tim Jeal''s ability and insight give unity to the whole.'' <i>Sunday Times</i><br><br>''Written in a style that is sophisticated and simple, acute and dogged... [Mr Jeal''s] book really has no faults.'' <i>New Yorker</i></p>