Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie

The writing in this Pulitzer Prize winning novel is what makes it worth the read.  Two American professors spend a few months researching and writing in London.  Vinnie is a 54 year old expert in children's nursery rhymes.  Plain looking and feeling unappreciated in her field, she loves all things British.  Fred is an much younger and anxious to make a name for himself  with his research on an 18th century English author.  Movie star handsome, his other reason for being in London is to escape embarrassing photos taken by his wife and shared in a photography exhibition.  Both Vinnie and Fred find romantic connections in London and their paths cross in Noel Cowardian ways.  By the end of the book, both have used their London experience to resolve some of the baggage they carry.  There is supposed to be a kind of sophisticated humor here but I never warmed to either of the main characters so I may have missed some of it.  Made for interesting book group conversation anyway.