
The Garden Party
'The Garden Party' Summary
The wealthy Sheridan family prepares to host a garden party. Laura is charged with instructing the workers on the placement of the marquee. Her haughty air quickly disintegrates into an intimidating admiration for the workingmen, with whom she feels a personal connection. Laura's mother, Mrs Sheridan, has ordered masses of lilies, to both their delight. Laura's sisters Meg and Jose, and their servant Hans, move furniture around to accommodate the piano. Jose tests the piano, and then sings a song in case she is asked to do so again later. After surveying the food in the kitchen, Laura and Jose learn that their working-class neighbour Mr Scott has died just outside their gate. While Laura believes the party should be called off, neither Jose nor their mother agrees. After catching herself in the mirror wearing a new hat, Laura eases her conscience by deciding to forget the matter until the party is over. When the evening comes, and the family is sitting underneath the marquee, Mrs Sheridan tells Laura to bring a basket full of leftovers to the Scotts' house. Laura is led into the poor neighbours' house by Mrs Scott's sister, sees the pitiable figure of the widow, and is led to the late husband's corpse. Here, Laura is intrigued by the sublimity of the corpse's face, and she finds his face in death just as beautiful as life as she knows it. Having fled the house, Laura meets her brother Laurie at the corner of the lane. She finds herself overtaken by emotion, saying "Isn't life--" but unable to complete the sentence. Laurie responds, "Isn't it, darling?"
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1922Authors

Katherine Mansfield
New Zealand
Kathleen Mansfield Murry was a prominent modernist writer who was born and brought up in New Zealand. She wrote short stories and poetry under the pen name Katherine Mansfield. When she was 19, she le...
Books by Katherine MansfieldDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

The Scarecrow and Other Stories by G. Ranger Wormser
In this, author invites readers on a thought-provoking journey through a collection of captivating tales. Each story explores the intricate workings o...

The Club of Masks by Allen Upward
In the heart of London's exclusive social scene lies a mysterious and enigmatic gathering known only as "The Club of Masks." A clandestine society tha...

Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke
Malte Laurids Brigge, a young Danish poet, arrives in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. As he wanders the city, he records his observations and r...

Midnight by Octavus Roy Cohen
A lone woman enters an empty taxicab on a sleeting cold December midnight. She is never seen again. In her place is the dead body of a prominent socie...

Dancing Girls by Edna Ferber
This collection of short stories showcases Edna Ferber's talent for crafting vivid characters and relatable narratives. Set in midwestern towns, the s...

Unlit Lamp by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
Unlit Lamp is a compelling novel set in the dynamic and transformative era of the 1920s. The story delves into the complexities of human relationships...

Yiddish Tales (יידיש מעשה) by Various
This collection of 48 English-language stories offers a glimpse into the lives of Jewish communities in 19th-century Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukrai...

Old New York by Edith Wharton
"Old New York" by Edith Wharton is a collection of four novellas that revolve around the upper-class society of New York City in the 19th century. The...

Emma by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy and independent young woman, enjoys meddling in the love lives of those around her. Despite her good intentions, her matchma...

Our Own Set by Ossip Schubin
This book, written by Ossip Schubin, dives into the world of Austrian nobility in Rome, showcasing the intricate social dynamics and hierarchies withi...
Reviews for The Garden Party
No reviews posted or approved, yet...