The Young Visiters. By Daisy Ashford FULL Audiobook
The Young Visiters is a novel written by Daisy Ashford when she was only nine years old. The book was published in 1919 and has since become a classic. The novel tells the story of Alfred Salteena, a 42-year-old man who invites 17-year-old Ethel Monticue to stay with him. They receive an invitation to visit Alfred's friend, Bernard Clark, which they readily accept. Bernard is "inclined to be rich". Shortly after their arrival, Ethel and Bernard become attracted to each other. Alfred seeks Bernard's advice on how to become a gentleman. Bernard is doubtful that this can be managed, but writes an introduction to his friend the Earl of Clincham. Alfred excitedly rushes off to London to visit the Earl, leaving Ethel alone and unchaperoned with Bernard. Lord Clincham lives, as many other aristocrats do, in "compartements" at the Crystal Palace. He agrees to assist Alfred and instals him in a subterranean "compartement", along with other "apprentice gentlemen". He invites Alfred to accompany him to a reception hosted by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), introducing Salteena as Lord Hyssops. The Prince is impressed, and promises to assist the trembling and overjoyed Salteena. Bernard and Ethel fall in love and marry. Devastated by these events, Salteena marries a maid-in-waiting at Buckingham Palace. Lord Clincham also marries, but not very happily.

The novel's appeal lies in its juvenile innocence, unconventional grammar, and spelling. It was reprinted 18 times in its first year alone. The book was so successful that it was rumored to be an elaborate literary hoax and that it had been written by J. M. Barrie himself. These rumors persisted for years .

The novel is a satirical commentary on the society of the time, with themes of class, fashion, doing the decent thing, and the shy maneuvering of Victorian courtship. The book has been adapted into a stage play by Mrs. George Norman and Margaret Mackenzie, which was first performed in London in 1920 and transferred shortly afterward to New York. The New York production, at the Thirty-Ninth Street Theatre, received generally good reviews .

I hope this summary helps you understand the plot of the book. Let me know if you have any other questions!.
More: The Young Visiters, Daisy Ashford, comic romance novella
upper class society, late Victorian England, Alfred Salteena
Ethel, Bernard, social climber
gentleman, plan, win back
historical fiction, humorous fiction, LibriVox

00:00:00 The Young Visiters. I: Quite a Young Girl
00:03:46 II: Starting Gaily
00:11:53 III: The First Evening
00:16:24 IV: Mr. Salteenas Plan
00:19:51 V: The Crystal Palace
00:32:50 VI: High Life
00:46:38 VII: Bernards Idear
00:50:26 VIII: A Gay Call
00:57:48 IX: A Proposale
01:03:27 X: Preparing for the Fray
01:06:28 XI: The Wedding
01:08:55 XII: How It Ended

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