A Natural Curiosity

Continuing her ironic depiction of ``mean, cold, ugly, divided, tired . . . post-imperial, post-industrial'' Britain, and taking up the lives of characters met in The Radiant Way , Drabble here produces a tighter and more cohesive tale . ``While her quirky characters often seem to exist to vent their author's spleen, they animate an involving story,'' observed PW. (Sept.)