The story in one page
At a posh English seaside hotel, a group of high-society women are sweating out their ailments in a Turkish bath when a breathtakingly beautiful stranger, the Princess Zairoff, appears. She is not just a Russian royal with a three-horse carriage; she is a practitioner of the occult who preaches against worldly vanity and the 'bondage' of social prejudice. Colonel Estcourt, a weary officer back from India, recognizes her as the woman he once loved before she chose a wealthy prince. As the Princess displays her supernatural powers to the curious and skeptical guests, she warns of spiritual consequences that science cannot explain. The social drama of the spa takes a sharp turn into the paranormal, culminating in a shared fate for the former lovers.
Who's who
- Princess Zairoff
A beautiful Russian mystic with occult powers and a mission.
- Colonel Estcourt
An English officer who knew the Princess since childhood.
- Mrs. Ray Jefferson
A talkative American guest fascinated by the Princess's beauty.
- Mrs. Masterman
A judgmental hotel guest who suspects the Princess of impropriety.
What it's really about
- The Occult
- Spiritual powers clashing with Victorian materialism.
- Social Judgment
- Gossip and suspicion regarding unconventional women.
Why it's memorable
- The Princess appearing in the hot room of the bath like a ghostly vision.
- A low Russian carriage drawn by three horses abreast racing through the English countryside.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Mrs. Jefferson sees a vision of the Princess standing in an archway, only for the form to vanish as she discovers the Princess’s lifeless body on a nearby couch. The Colonel also expires, leaving the hotel guests to contemplate a mystery that science cannot solve.
For your book club
- The contrast between the stifling heat of the bath and the Princess's cool, spiritual detachment.
- Whether the Princess's death was a sacrifice or the inevitable result of her occult practices.