138 Results with the "Literary Fiction" genre


    • A Slight Mistake Cover
      by LovelyMay A Slight Mistake begins with a light exchange that immediately sets the tone—Mrs. Hilary prepares for a charitable event with all the seriousness of a general at war, while Mr. Carter offers his support in the form of a rather laughable monetary donation. His contribution, intentionally meager, is less about stinginess and more about his usual blend of detachment and mockery of earnest causes. Mrs. Hilary, determined and mildly exasperated, takes the jest in stride, pressing on about her mission to…
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      A Quick Change

      A Quick Change Cover
      by LovelyMay A Quick Change begins not with action, but with one of Dolly’s casual complaints—this time, about the dreadful boredom of seeing a play with her husband. She delivers this grievance with practiced charm, knowing full well that Mr. Carter will respond not with judgment, but with playful sympathy. What unfolds is not a debate about marriage or theater, but a slow unraveling of shared memories, flirtations, and unspoken truths. Carter, always measured, doesn’t rise to the bait with grand declarations…
    • The House Opposite Cover
      by LovelyMay The House Opposite begins with a spirited recounting of a young man's misadventure—Algy Groom’s ill-fated Paris escapade. Meant to immerse himself in the French language, Algy instead found himself parted from a tidy sum, one hundred pounds entrusted by his father. What could have been a cautionary tale becomes, in the narrator’s telling, the launchpad for a richer conversation about youthful transgressions, the slipperiness of good intentions, and how mischief often disguises itself as experience.…
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      A Very Fine Day

      A Very Fine Day Cover
      by LovelyMay A Very Fine Day begins with the narrator observing the comings and goings of his cousin George, a young man wrapped in the fog of romantic confusion. George’s affections, though earnest, are more an exercise in admiration than true devotion, and the narrator watches with the tolerant amusement of someone who remembers what it felt like to take such emotions seriously. Mrs. Hilary, always ready with a frown, frames the social stakes early—romantic entanglements, even playful ones, are never free from…
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      A Reminiscence

      A Reminiscence Cover
      by LovelyMay A Reminiscence opens with Mrs. Hilary deep in the serious task of sourcing a suitable governess—one equipped with a strict curriculum, refined manners, and a moral backbone unbending enough to mold young girls into paragons of propriety. Her requirements, outlined with the precision of a civil servant drafting policy, receive polite nods from Miss Phyllis and the more irreverent attention of Mr. Carter. As she dictates a letter to the agency, Carter, bored by the administrative nature of the…
    • An Uncounted Hour Cover
      by LovelyMay An Uncounted Hour begins with the narrator, Mr. Carter, and Lady Mickleham in their usual element—surrounded by gentle luxury, cloaked in wit, and indulging in casual defiance of conventional behavior. The two lounge outside at The Towers, where Dolly feeds the family dog a delicacy more suited for aristocratic guests than a retriever. Their banter dances easily from the absurdity of spending habits to the perceived tragedy of cutting corners in anticipation of hypothetical poverty. Lady Mickleham, in…
    • The Very Latest Thing Cover
      by LovelyMay The Very Latest Thing begins in the intimate setting of a smoking room where Lady Mickleham, with her characteristic blend of charm and provocation, unveils her newest social experiment: a confession album. Unlike a guestbook filled with pleasantries, this one demands sincerity—real, unvarnished opinions from her friends, sealed with the honor not to flatter. Mr. Carter, no stranger to Dolly’s whims, reacts with amused reluctance. He teases the absurdity of it all, wary of the consequences that…
    • Strange, But True Cover
      by LovelyMay Strange, But True begins in the unlikely setting of a quiet luncheon between the narrator and his usually exuberant cousin, George. The change in George's demeanor is immediate—gone is the boyish humor, replaced by a kind of tragic introspection that puzzles the narrator. As they take a walk through the Oxford Park, George confesses to being hopelessly in love, though his declaration carries more despair than joy. He likens the condition to being trapped in “Hades,” yet he admits he would not trade…
    • A Very Dull Affair Cover
      by LovelyMay A Very Dull Affair begins in the comfortable drawing room of Mrs. Hilary Musgrave’s home, where conversation flows gently between the narrator, the hostess, her husband Hilary, and young Miss Phyllis. As tea is poured and pleasantries exchanged, Mrs. Hilary makes a bold assertion—her love for Hilary is steadfast and unmatched, a declaration made with such earnestness that it halts the narrator’s usual witticisms. Sensing an opportunity for diversion, she begins to recount the story of their…
    • An Expensive Privilege Cover
      by LovelyMay An Expensive Privilege begins with the narrator caught between two strong personalities—Mrs. Hilary Musgrave and Lady Mickleham. What unfolds is a social skirmish, not of great consequence to the world, but monumental within their tight-knit aristocratic circle. The narrator is perplexed by Mrs. Hilary’s coldness, particularly since she is typically gracious and generous in judgment. However, her indignation this time appears justified. The issue centers on a party where Miss Phyllis, young and…
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