The Flirt

"The Flirt" by Booth Tarkington is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Valentine Corliss, a young man returning to his hometown after years abroad. His arrival reintroduces romantic complexities as he finds himself at the center of attention among local social circles, particularly concerning the beautiful Cora Madison and her perceived affections. At the start of the novel, we meet Valentine Corliss as he strolls down Corliss Street on a hot summer day, reflecting on the changes in his hometown. He reminisces about past events and encounters familiar faces that spark memories, particularly relating to childhood rivalries. Shortly thereafter, he visits the Madison household, where he encounters Cora and her sister, Laura. Their contrasting personalities and interactions set the stage for emerging romantic tensions, with Cora being particularly captivated by Corliss's charm. The opening chapter establishes a rich sense of place, character dynamics, and the themes of attraction and social observation that will undoubtedly unfold throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Newton Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels The Magnificent Ambersons (1918) and Alice Adams (1921). He is one of only four novelists to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once, along with William Faulkner, John Updike, and Colson Whitehead. In the 1910s and 1920s he was considered the United States' greatest living author. Several of his stories were adapted to film.