Everything's up to date in Little Oxford with references to Gloria Steinem and Elton John--only old, wise, affectionate Vanessa Steele is running out of time. Her grandson Adam comes back to settle down, perhaps write a novel, perhaps marry. He also gets involved tangentially with a feature-writing divorcee and a childhood friend who has a bad time (abortion, suicide). Needless to say, as it was in the beginning, Adam's Eden is all Eve's.