
In a richly appointed Boston drawing‑room, the Masterson family gathers around a framed photograph of Oceana, a young woman who has spent fifteen years alone on a remote South Sea island. The children, Ethel and Letitia, speak of her beauty and wild upbringing, while her husband, Dr. Quincy Masterson, and his wife debate whether to call her by the exotic name she chose. As the winter evening deepens, the household waits anxiously for the steamer that may finally bring the enigmatic visitor ashore.
The play unfolds as a study of cultural collision, contrasting the genteel manners of upper‑class Boston with the untamed freedom of a life lived far from civilization. Through witty dialogue and sharp observations, the characters reveal their own desires, insecurities, and the expectations placed upon them by society. Listeners are drawn into a world where a single photograph can spark curiosity, tension, and the promise of change, setting the stage for a thoughtful exploration of identity and belonging.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (94K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charles Franks, the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and David Widger
Release date
2002-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1878–1968
Best known for writing The Jungle, he used fiction as a tool for reform, turning outrage over social injustice into page-turning stories. His work helped expose the brutal realities of industrial America and made him one of the most influential muckraking writers of his era.
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