Showing results by author "Basil King" in All Categories

Henry Guion, a rich and successful American businessman, faces complete ruin and jail as he has embezzled all his client’s money. He tells his daughter, Olivia, of all that has happened and the inevitable scandal which will follow. Olivia meanwhile is engaged to be married to a dashing English Colonel, Rupert Ashley. Peter Davenant, a self-made man, offers to give a vast amount of money to Guion to avert the scandal. He is no stranger to the family as, some years ago, he proposed to Olivia, who turned him down. Olivia is torn -between accepting the money and not wanting to be beholden to ...

The book is a sobering examination of how two families can be wrecked by a life of greed. It shows how giving can be done in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. In an attempt to support the girl he genuinely loves, Thor, the older brother, who has inherited money, gives her money so that his younger brother Claude can marry her and provide for them both. However, Claude misunderstands Thor’s intentions and, as a result, everything goes horribly wrong. (Summary by Simon Evers)

Set in the early 20th century New England, Side of the Angels explores a traditional community grappling with the winds of change. Thor, a wealthy doctor from a prominent family, finds himself in a dilemma as he tries to help Rosie, the woman he loves, by offering her money so that his brother Claude can marry her. As the intricacies of love and societal expectations unfold, the younger generation begins to seek their own paths, challenging the norms upheld by the older generation and the church. This captivating tale weaves together elements of romance and philosophy, inviting listeners to ...

Edward awakens aboard a ship crossing the Atlantic, returning from the Great War, but he is haunted by fragmented memories of his identity and past. This captivating journey chronicles his path to recovery as he gradually uncovers the profound impact the War has had on him, the people he encounters, and his family. (Summary by Simon Evers)

Norrie Ford, wrongfully convicted of murder, seizes a chance to escape and finds himself saved by a mysterious girl known as the Wild Olive. She helps him forge a new life under an assumed name in Argentina, where he thrives and even becomes engaged. But when he returns to New York for work, fate intervenes, bringing him face-to-face with the Wild Olive once again. Will their paths intertwine once more? (Summary by Simon Evers)

In this captivating tale, Diane Eveleth returns from a Parisian soirée only to face the shocking news that her husband, George Eveleth, has been killed in a duel with the infamous Marquis de Bienville. In a desperate bid for independence, Diane discreetly transfers her inheritance to her mother-in-law, and together they journey to New York to seek refuge with family. There, Diane takes on the role of chaperone for Dorothea, the daughter of the widowed Derek Pruyn, whom she has crossed paths with before. As the story unfolds, Pruyn proposes marriage, and Diane finds herself torn. She plans to ...

In Empty Sack, we follow the tumultuous journey of Jennie Follett, a struggling artist’s model in New York, and her brother, Teddy. After their father loses his job at the bank and passes away, the family is left in dire financial straits. In a desperate act, Teddy steals money from the bank where he works, leading to catastrophic repercussions. Meanwhile, Jennie finds herself torn between her love for Teddy and her engagement to the wealthy Bob Collingham, a man from a prominent banking family who is infatuated with her.

In the bustling world of New Yorks elite, Rashleigh Allerton finds himself in a heated argument with his affluent fiancée, Barbara. In a moment of reckless spontaneity, he declares that he will marry the very first person he encounters. What follows is a whirlwind of unexpected twists and turns that neither he, nor his devoted elderly servant Steptoe, could have anticipated. Join us on this delightful journey as absurdity and consequence intertwine in a tale filled with humor and surprises. - Summary by Simon Evers