
A chance reunion in July 1914 brings together a disparate group of former classmates—six men, two women, a narrator, and a youthful outsider—who have drifted apart over the years. Among them are a German‑trained doctor, a weary lawyer, a world‑traveling journalist, a virtuoso violinist, a sculptor living in his famous father’s shadow, a cynical critic, a nurse, and a wealthy divorcée with an eye for new philosophies. Their personalities clash and mingle as they set out for a single day’s escape into the French countryside.
When a missed train leaves them stranded, they seek refuge with an elderly widow whose remote farmhouse opens onto a riotous garden of roses, dahlias, poppies and winding vines. The lush, sun‑drenched setting becomes a quiet stage for old conversations, tentative confessions, and the subtle reawakening of bonds once thought dormant. As they wander among the blossoms, each guest finds a moment to reflect on the paths they have taken—and the possibilities that still lie ahead.
Full title
Told in a French Garden August, 1914 August, 1914
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (271K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-03-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1853–1928
An American journalist and writer who left Boston for France, she became known for vivid firsthand books about life near the front in World War I. Her work blends sharp reporting with the intimacy of personal letters and daily observation.
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