CHALLENGE was Vita Sackville-West's second novel. It was ready to go to
print in 1920, but the aughor suddenly changed her mind. This was not
because she lacked confidence in her work,but because of the scandal it
would have caused. CHALLENGE remained unpublished for over fifty years.
Vita's love affair with Violet Trefusis had reached its peak, and, eloping
to France, they decided to abandon everything and everyone - children and
husbands included - to spend the rest of their lives together. Although
they returned to their families eventually, CHALLENGE remains a testament
of their love, and was written during that period. The hero, Julian, might
be a Byronic young Englishman, and Eve the woman he adores; it may be an
adventure tale about a revolt on a Greek island. But really, this is a love
story, written in the presence of the beloved, and inspired by her. And, as
its title implies, the novel is a challenge to the society that condemned
Vita and her lover.