
audiobook
by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson, C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson
A witty, self‑aware narrator invites listeners into a tangled web of family secrets, social ambition, and the odd coincidences that can reshape history. She recounts how a simple longing for a white frock in a London shop window set off a chain of events that touched the highest echelons of power, from secret war rooms to distant diplomatic corridors. The voice is peppered with dry humor and vivid images—slippers that seem to chase a coat, ancient Irish castles that crumble under American lease agreements, and a hairdresser’s talent that becomes unexpectedly pivotal.
The story unfolds in a lively first act, where the narrator balances her love of languages, her family’s eccentric marriages, and the chaotic fate of Ballyconal, a crumbling estate that lured an American buyer. Listeners are drawn into her reflections on class, identity, and the absurdity of small desires that echo into grand, unseen consequences, all narrated with a charm that feels both intimate and conspiratorial.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (489K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-09-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1869–1933
Best known for lively travel romances and adventurous fiction written with her husband, she helped turn early motoring and grand-tour travel into irresistible storytelling. Her books mix glamour, movement, and suspense in a way that feels both period and surprisingly fresh.
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1859–1920
Best known for glamorous adventure and travel fiction, this prolific English novelist often wrote in partnership with Alice Muriel Williamson, producing fast-moving stories that were popular in the early 20th century. His work blends romance, suspense, and a strong sense of place, especially on the roads and resorts of Europe.
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