What's Inside
This volume collects nineteen narratives of young men navigating the minor social frictions of the Edwardian era. Whether they are bank clerks, actors, or struggling writers, these characters regularly find their romantic and professional ambitions thwarted by stubborn relatives or their own lack of focus. The settings oscillate between the foggy streets of London and the sun-drenched gambling tables of Roville-sur-Mer, where eccentric pawnbrokers and judgmental office-boys cross paths with the desperate. These tales rely on sudden inheritances, unexpected athletic performances, and the occasional stroke of dumb luck to resolve domestic standoffs. From a valet who ignores his employer's romantic advice to a man determined to prove he is not a vegetable, the pieces highlight the absurdity of maintaining dignity while broke.
Works & figures
- Annette Brougham
A composer who mistakes her neighbor's art for a personal insult. (in “THE MAN UPSTAIRS”)
- Sally Preston
A young woman who finds the village of Millbourne to be a deadly, depressing hole compared to her native London. (in “SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT”)
- M. Gandinot
The ugliest man in Roville-sur-Mer and a soft-hearted pawnbroker. (in “RUTH IN EXILE”)
- Rollo Finch
A man with a highly systematic, yet questionable, approach to falling in love. (in “AHEAD OF SCHEDULE”)
- Mr Rackstraw
A Radical politician who treats members of the peerage like stray cats. (in “THE GOAL-KEEPER AND THE PLUTOCRAT”)
What it's really about
- Social Mobility
- Marriage often serves as the only exit from a banking desk.
- Misplaced Identity
- Characters frequently lie about their jobs to impress love interests.
Why it's memorable
- A Frenchman frantically kicking a cat under a Soho restaurant table in a fit of nerves.
- An office boy whose gold-rimmed spectacles and saintly punctuality make his employer feel guilty.
Where to start
Start with The Man Upstairs to see how a noise complaint can escalate into a tactical romance.
For your book club
- The recurring contrast between the vibrancy of London and the crushing boredom of the English countryside.
- The role of sports, like cricket and football, as tools for social advancement.