The Countess of Lowndes Square
The Countess of Lowndes Square is a novel by E.F. Benson that was first published in 1920. It tells the story of a young woman named Diana who marries an older man, Lord Charles, and moves into his London home. However, she soon discovers that her new husband has a dark secret: he is obsessed with a mysterious woman known only as "The Countess" and spends most of his time in the company of other women. Diana becomes increasingly frustrated by Lord Charles's behavior and decides to take matters into her own hands, setting out on a journey that will lead her to uncover the truth about The Countess and her husband's past.
By E.F. Benson · Genre: Short Stories, Ghosts and Supernatural, Literary Fiction · 6,060 words
First lines
Cynthia, Countess of Hampshire, was sitting in an extraordinarily elaborate dressing-gown one innocent morning in June, alternately opening letters and eating spoonfuls of sour milk prepared according to the prescription of Professor Metchnikoff. Every day it made her feel younger and stronger and more irresponsible (which is the root of all joy to natures of a serious disposition), and since (when a fortnight before she began this abominable treatment) she felt very young already, she was now almost afraid that she would start again on measles, croup, hoops, whooping-cough, peppermints, and other childish ailments and passions. But since this treatment not only induced youth, but was discouraging to all microbes but its own, she hoped as regards ailments that she would continue to feel younger and younger without suffering the penalties of childhood.
What this Textopian page supports
The Countess of Lowndes Square is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Ghosts and Supernatural, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 6,060 words
- Structure: 1 section, 105 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Countess of Lowndes Square by E.F. Benson
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Countess of Lowndes Square?
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Similar titles
- The Lady Of Launay by Anthony Trollope
- Lotta Schmidt by Anthony Trollope
- The Pauper Of Park Lane by William Le Queux
- The Richpins by E. G. Swain
- The Freaks Of Mayfair by E. F. Benson
- The Romance Of Certain Old Clothes by Henry James
Genres
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, marking the author's expertise in the short-form narrative.
- Ghosts and Supernatural — The book contains a variety of suspenseful stories related to ghosts and mystical phenomena.
- Literary Fiction — Benson's detailed approach to characterization and English society marks this as a piece of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The book explores the mental states of its characters, delves into their psychology, and portrays their internal narrations.
Tags
society · drama · romance · class · London · Victorian · satire · relationships · wealth · intrigue · family · social commentary