Aunt Patty's Paying Guests by Eglanton Thorne
The story revolves around Nan Darracott, a young woman who is advised by her doctor to take a break from her studies due to overwork and nervous exhaustion. Her family struggles financially, and Nan is determined to help by becoming a teacher. However, her health forces her to pause her ambitions. Her Aunt Patty, recently widowed and facing financial difficulties, decides to take in paying guests at her country home, "Gay Bowers," to make ends meet. Nan is sent to assist her aunt, providing her with the rest and change of environment she needs. At "Gay Bowers," Nan meets various guests, including Professor Alan Faulkner, an intellectual recovering from illness, and the Dicks, an American father and daughter. Nan navigates her new role, dealing with the challenges of managing guests and her own personal growth. She forms a bond with Professor Faulkner, who becomes a significant figure in her life. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and personal development, as Nan learns to balance her ambitions with her health and familial duties. Through her experiences, she gains a deeper understanding of herself and the importance of rest and relationships in achieving her goals.
By Eglanton Thorne · First published 1907 · Genre: Domestic Fiction, Social Satire, Comedy of Manners · 24 chapters · 81,727 words
First lines
"NO books for twelve months at least," said Dr. Algar, our family physician. "This overworked little brain needs repose. So remember, Nan-no books."
"No books? " I repeated in utter dismay. "But that is impossible-quite impossible, Dr. Algar!"
"Oh, I do not mean that you may not read a storybook now and then, or amuse yourself with the magazines," he said calmly, "but anything like study I absolutely forbid."
What this Textopian page supports
Aunt Patty's Paying Guests is listed on Textopian as a novel by Eglanton Thorne, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Eglanton Thorne
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Domestic Fiction, Social Satire, Comedy of Manners, Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 81,727 words
- Structure: 24 chapters, 1,583 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Aunt Patty's Paying Guests by Eglanton Thorne
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Domestic Fiction — The narrative centers on familial interactions and household dynamics, focusing on the relationships between Aunt Patty and her guests.
- Social Satire — The book critiques social norms and class distinctions through the interactions of family and paying guests.
- Comedy of Manners — Humorous dialogue and situational irony expose the absurdities of social conventions within a domestic setting.
- Historical Fiction — Period-specific details and character archetypes suggest a setting reflective of historical social contexts.
Tags
domestic drama · family secrets · mystery · gothic elements · social commentary · class conflict · inheritance · suspense · psychological tension · boarding house · quirky characters · rural setting
Contents
- An Unwelcome Decree
- My Equipment
- "Gay Bowers"
- Laying our Plans
- A Response to the Advertisement
- The First Arrival
- The Americans
- A Princely Gift
- Miss Cottrell's Alias
- Cousin Agneta's Love Story
- The Unforeseen Befalls
- At Hobbes's Cottage
- Olive's Happiness
- A Picnic
- An Act of Indiscretion
- Misjudged
- A Gala Day at Greentree
- An Elopement
- Miss Cottrell's Elation
- A Proposal
- The Return of the Americans
- Calamity
- Twilight Talks
- Wedding Bells