
In the sun‑drenched streets of Monroe, California, a close‑knit group of young women spends their afternoons drifting between the post office, the local drugstore, and the cool shade of an old‑fashioned garden. Their lives are marked by the ritual of soda fountains, ice‑cream treats, and the quiet competition that comes with belonging to the town’s most affluent families. As they navigate friendships, subtle rivalries, and the expectations of their parents, the town’s genteel charm is both a comfort and a cage.
Beyond the girls’ world stands Malcolm Monroe, the silent owner of a sprawling, turret‑topped mansion that hints at an older, more stubborn California. While the town blossoms with new schools, factories, and a bustling trolley, Monroe clings to cautious, conservative choices, uneasy about the rapid changes around him. His resistance sets the stage for a gentle clash between tradition and progress, inviting listeners to wonder how the lives of the town’s youth will intersect with the stubborn legacy of its founder.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (664K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
2003-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1880–1966
A bestselling American novelist of the early 20th century, she wrote popular stories about family life, marriage, and social expectations. Her books reached a huge readership and helped make her one of the most widely read women writers of her era.
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