The Disturbing Charm

Berta Ruck's 1919 novel, The Disturbing Charm, is a satirical romance that explores the chaotic consequences of artificial attraction. The story follows Olwen Howel-Jones, a young Welsh woman working in France, who discovers an ancient recipe for a "charm" guaranteed to make the wearer irresistible. Seeking a bit of excitement, Olwen creates several sachets of the charm, keeping one for herself and secretly distributing others to various acquaintances at a seaside hotel. What begins as a li...