Tuesdays Tomes: The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers

Happy New Year! Welcome to Tuesdays Tomes 2011-a weekly book review of a vintage book available free on-line.

The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers

Could I resist a book entitled “The Agony Column”? Can you?

Mr. Geoffrey West, an American in London in the hot summer of 1914, has breakfast every morning at the Carlton Hote-strawberries and a delighted perusal of the Daily Mail’s “agony column” personals.

“MY LADY sleeps. She of raven stresses. Corner seat from Victoria, Wednesday night. Carried program. Gentleman answering inquiry desires acquaintance. Reply here. LE ROI”

WATERLOO: Wed. ll:53 train. Lady who left in taxi and waved, care to know gent, gray coat?—SINCERE

Ah-and this could be a tweet…”—loveu dearly; wantocu; missu—“ Well, at ten cents a word…

One morning he looks up from his Daily Mail as a lovely young American and her father enter. Offered those miraculous end-of-season strawberries, she defiantly states-absolutely not.

“I hate them! Grapefruit, please.”

Mr. West loudly tells the waiter to bring him a second dish...it works, she looks at him.

He keeps looking over..he sees she too is reading the Daily Mail Agony Column…she reads one to her father…he calls it Bosh - she thinks its quite nice.

He can’t stop thinking about her. Does he dare write a note to the Daily Mail? Should he?...would she answer?... Dear Miss Grapefruit…

This book is just full of surprising twists and turns and is quite as delightful as its title. Added joy-it gives an oblique look at London right up to the eve of WWI.

Read by peac, you can download this free audio-book here or the free e-book in pdf. or kindle format here.

Could Mr. West have looked this snappy?

Would one of these dresses been appropriate for breakfast at the Carlton?

I can’t see Miss Grapefruit with a fur muff but I do like the dress and those hats!