
In a cozy London sitting room, the flamboyant Dodo entertains her friend Edith, a recently returned concert conductor, with tea, cigarettes, and a spirited debate about free will. Their dialogue spins from the trivial—choosing which cigarette to smoke—to deeper questions about destiny, as Dodo likens her choice to a line already written in an unseen “Book of Fate.” Meanwhile, Edith begins to recount the tumultuous reception of her latest symphony in Leipzig, where hostility and admiration collided in a single performance.
The conversation becomes a lively portrait of two strong‑willed women navigating art, ambition, and societal expectations. Dodo’s razor‑sharp humor and Edith’s passionate reflections on music reveal a world where personal agency is constantly tested by external pressures. Listeners are invited into this witty, thought‑provoking exchange, discovering how a simple tea‑time can unfold into a broader commentary on choice, creativity, and the quirks of human nature.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (355K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Annie McGuire. This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Internet Archive.
Release date
2012-09-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1940
Best known for the deliciously funny Mapp and Lucia novels, this English writer mixed sharp social comedy with ghost stories, memoir, and a remarkably varied literary career. His books still charm readers with their wit, atmosphere, and close observation of small-town rivalry and human vanity.
View all books