Dr. Frederic Treves discovers John Merrick, who has been born with a congenital disorder, working in a London sideshow to earn a living as the “The Elephant Man.” When Treves brings Merrick into his home, he discovers that that Merrick’s rough exterior hides a refined soul, and that Merrick can teach the British upper class a lesson about dignity.

When Jeff, a luckless young security guard, is drawn into a local murder investigation, he and his tightly wound supervisor become embroiled in an unexpected family fiasco, and two local beat cops end up divided by their own romantic and political allegiances.

London, 1879. The prestigious Explorers Club is in crisis: their acting president wants to admit a woman, and their bartender is terrible. True, this female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City, but the decision to let in a woman could shake the very foundation of the British Empire… and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink?

Four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon, and hearts are unmoored.