When Maxine Elliott moved into her newly built Château de l’Horizon in 1932, she and her guests always dined outside by moonlight. For the nights when the moon did not oblige, Elliott constructed an alternative: a huge fake moon, set at the top of her highest tree, which could be switched on to provide electric moonlight when necessary.

The Riviera Set, 1920–1960 is the story not of Elliott but of her house near Cap d’Antibes, which she made into one of the most celebrated places on the Riviera, at least among a certain privileged set. Mary Lovell tells Elliott’s story wonderfully and it is fascinating to