
Polly, a spirited young woman with a fierce independence, finds herself caught between the expectations of her small-town upbringing and the alluring mysteries of a broader world. When a chance encounter sparks a passionate correspondence with a stranger from across the sea, her letters become a lifeline, revealing desires she never imagined she possessed. The narrative follows her as she navigates the excitement and uncertainty of this hidden romance, all while confronting the constraints of family and society.
Set against the backdrop of post‑war Europe, the story weaves together cultural clashes and the curiosity of an American mind eager to explore foreign customs. Through Polly’s candid reflections, readers glimpse the tension between tradition and the yearning for freedom, as well as the ways love can bridge even the most entrenched divides. The early chapters promise a compelling blend of humor, yearning, and the bittersweet thrill of secret communication, inviting listeners to linger over each beautifully penned missive.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (241K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Matthew Wheaton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2013-01-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1948
A Boston heiress turned travel writer and philanthropist, she wrote vivid books about places she knew firsthand, including Hawaii, India, and China. Her life joined Gilded Age privilege with a lasting public legacy through museums, gardens, and charitable gifts.
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