| Author |
Baring, Maurice, 1874-1945 |
| Title |
Orpheus in Mayfair, and Other Stories and Sketches
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 76.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Contents |
Orpheus in Mayfair -- The cricket match: an incident at a private school -- The shadow of a midnight: a ghost story -- Jean Francois -- The flute of Chang Liang -- "What is truth?" -- A luncheon-party -- Fete galante -- The garland -- The spider's web -- Edward II. at Berkeley Castle, by an eye-witness -- The island -- The man who gave good advice -- Russalka -- The old woman -- Dr. Faust's last day -- The flute-player's story -- A Chinaman on Oxford -- Venus -- The fire -- The conqueror -- The ikon -- The thief -- The star -- Chun Wa.
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| Credits |
Produced by Dagny; Emma Dudding; John Bickers; David Widger
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| Summary |
"Orpheus in Mayfair and Other Stories and Sketches" by Maurice Baring is a collection of short stories written during the early 20th century. The central theme revolves around the struggles of various characters, often artists and musicians, as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and societal expectations, while attempting to express their artistic aspirations. The opening story, titled "Orpheus in Mayfair," introduces us to Heraclius Themistocles Margaritis, a poor Greek musician who dreams of achieving fame and sharing the forgotten songs of his homeland. The opening of the collection establishes Margaritis as a dedicated musician who teaches music and Greek in London, yet longs for success and validation. His life takes a dramatic turn when he receives an unexpected invitation to perform at a prestigious event, only to be confronted by a family crisis involving his sick child. As he grapples with his ambitions intertwined with personal troubles, the narrative hints at themes of sacrifice, the ephemeral nature of success, and the haunting beauty of artistic yearning. This juxtaposition of artistic aspiration against real-world challenges sets the tone for the subsequent stories in the book, inviting readers into a rich tapestry of human experiences intertwined with creativity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
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| Subject |
Short stories
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| Subject |
English fiction -- 20th century
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
2492 |
| Release Date |
Apr 4, 2006 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Oct 26, 2017 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
110 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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