A mystery story, a detective story and a love story, The Invention of Dr Cake is above all a story about poetry - about its creation and disappearance. To all appearances, Dr Cake is an unexceptional man. After a period of study and practice in London, and several years travelling in Europe, he has chosen the life of a village doctor. He publishes regularly in medical journals and lives quietly and alone with his house-keeper. His extensive bookcase demonstrates a keen interest in poetry and drama, and indeed in everything he does, he shows himself a man of the widest sympathies. Locally, he is known for his great kindness to patients. When he dies, the local church is full to overflowing with mourners. But why then, on the brass plate so ostentatiously screwed to his coffin-lid, is there no name?