The Riverside Bulletin, March, 1910 Houghton Mifflin Company Books for Spring and Summer

A lively cross‑section of early‑20th‑century fiction, this collection gathers four distinct tales that together capture the era’s taste for romance, wit, and far‑flung adventure. Each story offers a different flavor, from glittering transatlantic marriages to the bustling streets of London, the tropical intrigue of the Malay islands, and the humor of small‑town America.

In the first novella a wealthy New York heiress weds a French duke, and their marriage becomes a study of cultural misunderstandings and prideful hearts finding common ground. The second follows a bright‑minded Scottish lad who climbs from a hill‑side village to a coveted secretarial post in London’s political circles, only to be tangled in a charmingly chaotic romance with twin sisters.

The third transports listeners to exotic seas, where an American hero confronts mystery and danger amid the lush backdrop of the Malay islands. The final piece returns home with a retired Civil‑War veteran whose wedding day is upended by a mischievous trick, delivering gentle comedy and a touch of nostalgia. Together, these stories provide an engaging, varied listening experience.