The setting is Blandings Castle in rural Shropshire England, idyllic country seat of eccentric Clarence, 9th Earl of Emsworth. It is summer time and Blandings is bursting with bizarre visitors including his Lordship's sister Lady Constance and Alaric, Duke of Dunstable. The Duke brings with him a recently purchased painting of a rather fetching nude which, it seems, everyone wants to get their hands on. American visitor, Wilbur Trout believes the nude resembles his latest ex-wife, whilst Lord Emsworth is convinced the portrait bears more than a passing resemblance to his peerless prize pig, the Empress! Soon Blandings becomes a hornet's nest of theft, forgery, imposters - and romance. Luckily Emsworth's brother, Sir Galahad, illustrious member of the old Pelican Club, is on hand to sort things out...