Subject
Boardinghouses -- Fiction Books
Best books
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table
"The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table" by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. is a collection of essays published in 1858. Originally appearing in The Atlantic Monthly, these essays present one-sided conversations between an unnamed author and fellow residents of a New England boarding house. Topics range from aging and dwelling placement to the nature of conversation itself, delivered in a distinctly Yankee, seriocomic tone. Each essay typically concludes with a poem reflecting its themes, blending philosophy, humor, and verse into America's literary breakfast tradition.
Joseph Crosby Lincoln
Thankful's Inheritance
"Thankful's Inheritance" by Joseph C. Lincoln is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around Thankful Barnes, who, along with her cousin Emily Howes, embarks on a tumultuous journey to inspect an inherited property in the village of East Wellmouth, Massachusetts. Their journey is marked by a series of unexpected challenges, including a disastrous wagon ride through a storm and the discovery of their new home, a seemingly abandoned house filled with echoes of the past. At the start of the narrative, readers are introduced to Thankful and Emily as they travel to East Wellmouth in a rickety wagon. They struggle through a wild storm, getting stuck and finally crashing, which strands them in the middle of nowhere. Despite this, Thankful’s humorous and optimistic nature keeps the mood light even as they encounter the daunting circumstances of their arrival. The beginning of the novel sets the stage for their adventures, highlighting Thankful’s determination to take charge of her inheritance, and hints at peculiar mysteries surrounding the house they inherit, which draws them into a world of nostalgic memories and potential supernatural elements.
H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft
Cool air
"Cool Air" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story written in March 1926. A narrator recounts why cool air has become detestable to him, beginning with his arrival in a New York City brownstone in 1923. After suffering a heart attack, he meets his upstairs neighbor, Dr. Muñoz, a brilliant but reclusive physician obsessed with defying death. The doctor's apartment is kept freezing cold through an elaborate refrigeration system. As their friendship deepens, the narrator witnesses increasingly strange behavior—until the night the cooling system fails catastrophically.
George Van Schaick
A Top-Floor Idyl
"A Top-Floor Idyl" by George Van Schaick is a novel written in the early 20th century. It presents a slice-of-life narrative set in a New York boarding house, focusing on the lives of its diverse residents. The story revolves around David Cole, the protagonist, who interacts with various characters, including the painter Gordon McGrath, and the struggling young mother, Frances Dupont, as they navigate themes of friendship, love, and the complexities of city life. At the start of the story, we are introduced to David Cole during his fortieth birthday celebration with his friend Gordon. They discuss life, art, and the peculiar residents of David's top-floor abode, including Frances, a new occupant who is about to give birth and faces considerable hardship. As the narrative unfolds, David's kindness leads him to be deeply involved in Frances's situation, highlighting the connections and emotional ties that bind the characters together. The opening establishes a blend of humor and poignant reflection on human relationships in an urban setting, hinting at more significant developments to come as these individuals confront their personal struggles.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Crux: A Novel
"The Crux: A Novel" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a fiction work written in the early 20th century. The story introduces readers to Vivian Lane and her family, delving into themes surrounding societal expectations, personal growth, and women's roles during a time when these were undergoing significant scrutiny and change. The narrative explores Vivian's life in a small New England town and her desire for independence and purpose amid the limitations imposed by her conservative upbringing. The opening of the novel establishes the setting and introduces characters such as the Foote sisters and the Lane family, who are embroiled in local gossip about a young boy named Morton Elder. As discussions unfold around this family and the societal norms of their community, we see Vivian grappling with her own thoughts about education, marriage, and her aspirations—younger than her parents and looking to strike her own path. Despite the conventional expectations of her environment, Vivian's defiance emerges as she longs for more from life than what traditional roles ascribe to her. This sets the stage for her ensuing journey and challenges, drawing readers into her struggle for self-definition against societal limitations.
Henry James
A Bundle of Letters
"A Bundle of Letters" by Henry James is a comic short story published in 1879. Set in a Paris boarding house, the tale unfolds entirely through letters written by international residents to friends and family back home. Each correspondent reveals their personality while commenting on their fellow boarders—often with sharp disdain. An earnest American traveler, a snobbish English pair, a pretentious aesthete, an amorous Frenchman, and an aggressively nationalistic German professor all unwittingly expose their own prejudices and pretensions, while remaining oblivious to how others perceive them.
Patrick MacGill
The Rat-Pit
"The Rat-Pit" by Patrick MacGill is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in the impoverished environment of Donegal, Ireland, focusing on the lives of the downtrodden, including women supported by community ties as they navigate the hardships of their existence. The protagonist, Norah Ryan, embodies the struggle against societal judgment and economic despair, representing the plight of many in a world marked by shame and survival. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Norah and her frail mother in a ramshackle cabin at dawn amid a harsh winter storm. Norah prepares to leave for the town, where she has hopes of procuring food while her mother, bedridden and unwell, urges her to be careful. As Norah ventures out, we see the gritty realities of life populated by impoverished women who endure great suffering yet share a deep camaraderie. Through vivid descriptions of their daily struggles and communal reliance, the opening portrays a raw yet poignant portrait of life at the margins, setting the stage for Norah's journey through hardship, maternal responsibility, and societal judgments that define her fate.
Henry James
Sir Dominick Ferrand
"Sir Dominick Ferrand" by Henry James is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around Peter Baron, a struggling writer, who is on the brink of achieving literary recognition when he encounters a mysterious set of letters related to the now-extinct figure of Sir Dominick Ferrand. This discovery presents both a tantalizing opportunity and ethical dilemmas that Baron must navigate as he weighs the implications of revealing these potentially explosive documents. At the start of the novel, Peter Baron is introduced as a fledgling writer whose work has just been accepted with some reservations by an editor named Mr. Locket. As he prepares for his meeting with Locket, he also encounters Mrs. Ryves, a musical lodger whose presence piques his interest. Their interaction hints at a budding connection, further complicated by the discovery of an intricately designed writing desk containing mysterious, sealed documents. While Baron grapples with the pressures of his aspiring literary career and the ethical quandaries posed by his discovery, the dynamic between him and Mrs. Ryves intensifies, establishing a backdrop of personal and professional tension that propels the narrative forward.
Julia Edwards
Beautiful but poor
"Beautiful but Poor" by Julia Edwards is a fictional novel written in the late 19th century. The story primarily revolves around Hattie Butler, a beautiful yet impoverished young woman, who lives in a dreary boarding house and works tirelessly at a bindery to make ends meet. Hattie's life takes intrigue-filled twists as she receives mysterious letters from someone in California, hinting at a hidden past and potential romance, while grappling with her unfortunate circumstances and the challenges of living amongst other working girls. The opening of the story paints a vivid picture of Hattie's reality, introducing the dingy boarding house run by the cantankerous Miss Scrimp, alongside her fellow boarders, including the kind-hearted Little Jess. The narrative highlights Hattie's quiet beauty, her admirable work ethic, and the subtle bonds of friendship that develop in the harsh environment of the boarding house. As the tale begins, Miss Scrimp becomes obsessively curious about Hattie’s correspondence, believing it to be a possible disruption to her controlled world. This establishes a sense of tension and foreshadows deeper mysteries as Hattie navigates not only her impoverished life but also the encroaching interest of others that may complicate her modest existence.
Charles Dickens
Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy
"Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy" by Charles Dickens is a novella that belongs to the genre of fiction, specifically focusing on domestic and social themes. Written during the Victorian era, this tale offers a rich tapestry of characters and events centered around the life of Mrs. Emma Lirriper, a kind-hearted landlady running a lodging house in London. The story delves into topics of legacy, human goodness, and the complexities of relationships, all intertwined with Dickens's characteristic wit and social commentary. The narrative unfolds through Mrs. Lirriper's perspective as she recounts the various eccentricities of her lodgers and her life. The plot thickens with the unexpected arrival of news regarding a dying Englishman in France, who leaves a financial legacy for her. This man turns out to be the estranged father of Jemmy, Mrs. Lirriper's grandson, connecting the threads of the past and present. As Mrs. Lirriper grapples with forgiveness and the notion of familial ties, the story culminates in a poignant revelation about love, loss, and redemption, encapsulating Dickens's exploration of human resilience and compassion amidst life's tribulations.
Henry James
The Pension Beaurepas
"The Pension Beaurepas" by Henry James is a novel written during the late 19th century that explores themes of human nature and social interactions within a boarding house setting. The story is narrated from the perspective of an unnamed young American who has come to Geneva, drawn by a desire to observe and understand people, inspired by literary figures like Stendhal and Balzac. The primary focus revolves around his experiences at the Pension Beaurepas and the colorful array of characters he encounters, including the proprietors, Madame Beaurepas and her niece, and various eccentric boarders. The opening of the novel introduces the narrator as he settles into the Pension Beaurepas, noting its humble yet charming ambiance and the practical nature of its elderly landlady. Through his eyes, we meet other residents: an old Frenchman and a young American, as well as a new arrival who exudes airs of gentility. The narrator's observations highlight the dynamics of boarding-house life, marked by social interactions and the personal quirks of its inhabitants, as he grapples with the blend of comfort, simplicity, and underlying tensions among the diverse characters, particularly the Ruck family, who appear to embody the tensions between American and European sensibilities. Overall, it sets the stage for a social critique wrapped in the nuances of personal relationships.
Charles Dickens
Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings
"Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings" by Charles Dickens is a heartwarming collection of stories that offers a glimpse into the life of elderly widow Emma Lirriper, who runs a lodging house in London during the Victorian era. The narrative reflects the concerns and contributions of her household management, shaped by her experience as a proprietor over many years. The engaging tale explores relationships with her lodgers, often highlighting the amusing and touching interactions that occur within her home. The storyline centers around Mrs. Lirriper and her experiences managing her lodging house, filled with various colorful characters, both lodgers and staff, each bringing their quirks and challenges. She shares anecdotes about the struggles with her young staff who often bring trouble into her life, such as the spirited Caroline Maxey, and the gentlemen lodgers whose escapades sometimes complicate her everyday routine. Interlaced among these are poignant moments, such as Mrs. Lirriper's care for her lodgers' personal troubles, including dealing with a young married woman, Mrs. Edson, who faces emotional turmoil. The overarching theme is one of community and compassion, as Mrs. Lirriper often finds herself acting as a caretaker, protector, and friend—creating an environment of warmth and familial affection in the midst of her busy lodging life. The narrative oscillates between humor and sentimentality, with Dickens skillfully painting an affectionate portrait of life's simple yet profound moments.
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