
A kaleidoscope of short fantasies awaits, each one slipping the listener into a different world of intrigue, romance, and uncanny charm. From glittering Monte Carlo salons to shadowed bazaars, the stories wander through the lives of lovers, artists, and restless dreamers who chase the extraordinary in ordinary settings. The collection balances wit with a hint of melancholy, inviting you to linger on the moment when the ordinary slips into the marvelous.
The opening tale follows a handsome American who, while strolling past a Parisian art‑dealer, becomes transfixed by a portrait of a mysterious woman known as “Our Lady of Red Lips.” Her vivid crimson smile, emerald eyes, and jet‑black hair hint at a string of vanished lovers and a painter whose death coincided with his final masterpiece. As the stranger steps into the shop, the conversation unravels a web of hidden histories, setting the stage for a dream‑laden pursuit that blurs the line between art and obsession.
Language
en
Duration
~53 minutes (50K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Broadway Publishers Co., 1910.
Credits
D A Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by University of California libraries)
Release date
2022-08-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1941
A railroad heiress turned globe-trotting bohemian, she became famous for a life that mixed wealth, mysticism, travel, and spectacular public scandal. Her adventures in the United States, Europe, and Asia made her one of the most talked-about social figures of her era.
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