The Rich Mrs. Burgoyne

"The Rich Mrs. Burgoyne" by Kathleen Thompson Norris is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story unfolds in the California town of Santa Paloma and centers around Mrs. Sidney Burgoyne, a wealthy widow who moves to Holly Hall with her two daughters, seeking a quieter life after the turbulence caused by her husband's death. The novel explores themes of wealth, social dynamics, and the intricacies of community interactions as Mrs. Burgoyne reintegrates herself into society. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Mrs. Carew, who is hosting a card party while juggling the demands of domestic life surrounded by her family and hired help. The opening chapters vividly depict her frenetic preparations and the bustling atmosphere of the Carew household just before the party. We also meet Barry Valentine, who is reluctantly tasked with showing Mrs. Burgoyne around the old Holly Hall. As Mrs. Burgoyne tours her potential new home, memories of her past with the Holly family surface, hinting at her deep connections and the influences of her previous life. The narrative sets the stage for the evolving social landscape in Santa Paloma, reflecting on the charm and challenges of integrating wealth into the local community. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Kathleen Thompson Norris was an American novelist and newspaper columnist. She was one of the most widely read and highest paid female writers in the United States for nearly fifty years, from 1911 to 1959. Norris was a prolific writer who wrote 93 novels, many of which became best sellers. Her stories appeared frequently in the popular press of the day, including The Atlantic, The American Magazine, McClure's, Everybody's, Ladies' Home Journal, and Woman's Home Companion. Norris used her fiction to promote family and moralistic values, such as the sanctity of marriage, the nobility of motherhood, and the importance of service to others.