
A weary but witty gentleman finds himself caught between the glitter of Mediterranean resorts and the quiet comforts of home. While a telegram interrupts his reverie on a sun‑dappled garden terrace, he recalls his wife’s faithful letters, full of domestic charm and gentle reminders of duty. The narrative gently sketches the social rituals of late‑Victorian travel, the clash of intellectual fads like Theosophy, and the unspoken tensions that colour a marriage of convenience.
Through witty dialogue and tender correspondence, the story reveals the subtle humor and melancholy of a couple navigating expectations, distance, and the longing for simple affection. Listeners are invited to share the protagonist’s quiet introspection, as he balances the allure of exotic locales with the steady presence of a devoted partner who, despite her modest ways, keeps his world anchored. The opening promises a thoughtful, lightly comic portrait of love, friendship, and the small dramas of everyday life.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (420K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
2013-09-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1850–1907
Best remembered for warm, vivid tales of rural Scottish life, this widely read minister-turned-author became one of the biggest literary sensations of the 1890s. Writing as Ian Maclaren, he paired storytelling with a preacher’s eye for character, kindness, and everyday struggle.
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