
THE GOLDEN HOUSE
By Charles Dudley Warner
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In a dimly lit, opulently decorated townhouse, an eclectic crowd gathers at the stroke of midnight. Scholars, socialites, artists, and curious travelers mingle among tapestries, oriental silks, and antique weapons, their murmurs swelling like the low hum of an unseen orchestra. The setting feels both a sanctuary of luxury and a stage for something daring, as guests anticipate a moment that promises to blur the line between propriety and spectacle.
At the heart of the room a white canvas stands ready, its empty space soon to be filled by a lone figure. When the first notes of a mandolin, a ney, and a drum echo through the shadows, a Spanish dancer emerges, poised and radiant, her every movement amplified by flickering light. The audience, a mix of eager youth and seasoned connoisseurs, holds its breath, ready to witness a performance that could redefine their notions of beauty and art.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (431K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
Oct 10, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1829–1900
Best remembered today as Mark Twain’s collaborator on The Gilded Age, this sharp-eyed 19th-century American writer was also a widely read essayist, editor, and travel author. His work mixed humor, social observation, and an easy, conversational style that still feels welcoming.
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by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner

by Charles Dudley Warner