788 Results in the "Literary Fiction" category


    • Chapter

      My Sixth Stage

      My Sixth Stage Cover
      by LovelyMay My Sixth Stage begins during a particularly airless September in London, where Mark Shrewsbury, an otherwise prolific writer, found himself weighed down by the unrelenting heat and creative inertia. The comfort of his writing chamber offered little relief, and even the familiar rhythm of his typewriter failed to spark motivation. His mind wandered, detached from the manuscript he was laboring over. It was during this uninspired spell that he drifted into the club, looking for companionship or at least…
      Fiction • Satire
    • My Triumphant Finale Cover
      by LovelyMay My Triumphant Finale begins not with celebration, but with silence—the heavy kind that settles in a prison cell at night when hope has begun to fade. Sigismund Zaluski, a man once full of promise and intellect, finds himself confined not by just stone walls, but by the weight of an accusation rooted in thoughtless gossip. Within those narrow walls, time slows, days blur, and the mind becomes both sanctuary and tormentor. Desperate for a lifeline, he reaches out—not through voice, which the walls…
      Fiction • Satire
    • My Seventh Stage Cover
      by LovelyMay My Seventh Stage begins as two journeys are set into motion—one by rail, the other by post. As autumn sunlight bathes the English countryside in warmth, Sigismund Zaluski departs from the peaceful town of Muddleton, answering an unexpected summons from his uncle in Russia. Though the visit is intended to be brief—just a fortnight—he leaves behind his belongings and a tender promise to Gertrude, his fiancée, to return soon. Simultaneously, a letter penned in idle malice—full of falsehoods—makes…
      Fiction • Satire
    • Dolly Dialogues Cover
      by LovelyMay Dolly Dialogues by Anthony Hope is a collection of witty and humorous vignettes, published in 1894, featuring sharp exchanges between the charming Dolly and her admirers. The book captures the nuances of Victorian society and relationships with clever dialogue and satire.
    • A Liberal Education Cover
      by LovelyMay A Liberal Education opens with Dolly Foster observing Phil Meadows, now a polished member of society, pass her by on the Row without the slightest nod of recognition. This moment stirs a reflective irritation in her, as she recounts to Mr. Carter how, just a few years earlier, he was a socially awkward and hopeless figure. Meadows once carried an unrolled umbrella and a brown paper parcel, wore ill-fitting clothes, and approached life with a sense of grim earnestness. He neither smoked nor drank, and his…
    • Cordial Relations Cover
      by LovelyMay Cordial Relations begins with Mr. Carter paying a visit to Miss Dolly Foster, who is soon to become Lady Mickleham. In his hand is a farewell token—a broken pearl heart encrusted with rubies and diamonds, offered half in jest and half in lingering sentiment. The gift is not just a decorative trinket; it subtly signals the fractured affection he still holds for her. Dolly, never one to dwell too long on sentimentality, accepts it with an amused eye and a quip, diverting attention away from any deeper…
    • Chapter

      Retribution

      Retribution Cover
      by LovelyMay Retribution begins with Mr. Carter firmly deciding to adopt a more prudent approach, particularly regarding Dolly Foster, whose flair for mischief often drags him into public spectacle. His resolve is tested almost immediately when he's summoned to meet Lady Mickleham, the formidable mother of Dolly’s fiancé. Their meeting unfolds with a cold politeness, heavy with scrutiny as Lady Mickleham methodically examines him through her pince-nez, a symbolic gesture of judgment as much as a practical accessory.…
    • The Perverseness of It Cover
      by LovelyMay The Perverseness of It begins with Mr. Carter accompanying Miss Nellie Phaeton on a brisk carriage ride through the Park, their lively conversation sparking with wit and layered meanings. Miss Phaeton’s energy contrasts Carter’s composed demeanor, yet they match intellectually, their banter circling the nuances of affection and societal ambition. She pokes at the contradictions of love and marriage, suggesting that romantic inclinations often crumble under the weight of expectations and fortune.…
    • A Matter of Duty Cover
      by LovelyMay A Matter of Duty opens with Mr. Carter being beckoned by Lady Mickleham, newly returned from her honeymoon and eager to confide in someone familiar. She is learning the complexities of married life, particularly those involving her husband Archie's family, whose strong personalities come wrapped in polite expectations. Dolly shares her struggle with their traditions—many outdated, some peculiar—and the pressure to adapt while maintaining her own individuality. The dowager, in particular, overwhelms her…
    • Chapter

      My Last Chance

      My Last Chance Cover
      by LovelyMay My Last Chance begins with an air of finality, as Mrs. Hilary Musgrave lays out her terms with a tone that suggests she’s had enough. Mr. Carter is given one last opportunity to redeem his romantic record by winning over Miss Sophia Milton—a woman of admirable qualities, wealth, and a certain quiet sophistication. Mrs. Hilary paints Miss Milton as cultured, independent, and earnest, though not without her quirks. She plays the piano, reads Browning with devotion, and has opinions on government affairs.…
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