Viola's vanity : or, A bitter expiation

In dazzling Washington society, a striking young woman named Viola Van Lew becomes the talk of the town when she abandons a high‑profile congressional engagement to run off with a modest journalist. The scandal erupts across the capital’s newspapers, exposing the fragile balance between reputation, familial duty, and the intoxicating lure of youthful desire. As the glittering veneer of her privileged world begins to crack, Viola must confront the real cost of a choice made on a whim.

Through witty dialogue and vivid social portraiture, the story follows her journey from carefree coquette to a woman pressed to reckon with the consequences of her vanity. Alongside the elegant settings and sharp observations of the era, listeners will hear how love’s bright promise can blur into pride’s bitter aftermath, inviting reflection on the timeless tension between heart and honor.