The Wooing of Calvin Parks

by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

"The Wooing of Calvin Parks" by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Calvin Parks, a charming and roving candy salesman who returns to his childhood home and encounters the old friends from his past, specifically the Sill twins, Sam and Sim. As he reconnects with them, he stumbles into a peculiar family dynamic that hints at deeper romantic entanglements and match-making shenanigans. At the start of the narrative, Calvin arrives at the Sill family home, reminiscing about his past and discovering that the twins have grown more eccentric after the passing of their mother. The opening scenes introduce readers to the comedic and somewhat dysfunctional relationship between the twins, who now live in the shadows of their mother's influence, along with the significant presence of Mary Sands, their cousin, who is living with them. As Calvin settles back into this familiar yet changed environment, he becomes embroiled in the twins' desire for Matrimony and is nudged into thinking about marriage himself, particularly in relation to the captivating Mary Sands. The opening sets the stage for the themes of love, friendship, and the humorous complexities of relationships that characterize the novel.