The Prince of Graustark

A witty portrait of early‑20th‑century America, this novel opens with the Blithers—an industrious, stubborn husband and his sharp‑tongued wife—debating the perfect match for their only daughter, Maud. Their banter, full of humor and domestic squabbles, reveals a family whose fortunes have risen from railroad work to lavish estates, yet whose concerns remain surprisingly ordinary: finding a husband worthy of their daughter’s future.

When a startling invitation arrives from the exotic kingdom of Graustark, the Blithers’ ambitions take a turn toward the regal. The prospect of a princely suitor promises both prestige and the inevitable clash of cultures, setting the stage for a charming mix of romance, intrigue, and gentle satire. Listeners will be drawn into the lively dynamics of the Blithers household and the tantalizing possibilities that a foreign crown brings to their American world.