Mortmain

by Arthur Cheney Train

"Mortmain" by Arthur Cheney Train is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Sir Richard Mortmain, a man entangled in a web of personal and financial crises, including a significant debt that puts him at risk of bankruptcy. The opening chapters introduce the protagonist's interactions with medical professionals, particularly Sir Penniston Crisp, whose groundbreaking surgical experiments may become relevant to Mortmain's challenges. The beginning of "Mortmain" draws the reader into Sir Richard Mortmain's life as he grapples with impending financial ruin and an increasingly precarious social standing. The narrative opens with the introduction of Sir Penniston Crisp, an accomplished surgeon, who has made strides in experimental surgery, potentially foreshadowing his methods becoming crucial for Mortmain's fate. Meanwhile, Mortmain's conversation with his solicitor, Ashley Flynt, reveals his desperation; he faces the choice of marriage as a means to escape his debts, a suggestion he vehemently rejects due to his disdain for marrying solely for financial security. As tensions mount, the reader witnesses Mortmain becoming more enmeshed in moral dilemmas and societal expectations, setting the stage for a complex interplay of ambition, ethics, and consequence that promises to unfold in the chapters ahead.