Aunt Patty's Paying Guests

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around a young woman named Nan Darracott, who, suffering from exhaustion due to overwork, is sent to recuperate at her Aunt Patty's countryside home, ''Gay Bowers.'' As the narrative unfolds, themes of family, personal growth, and the transition from academic struggles to embracing a new phase of life emerge, particularly with the introduction of various interesting characters, including a professor and American guests. The opening of the book introduces Nan as she faces a doctor's decree to take a break from her studies, feeling like her hopes for a teaching career are slipping away. Her family's financial struggles are evident, and the atmosphere is one of both love and tension among her siblings. After her uncle's sudden death, Aunt Patty is left to manage their shared grief while contemplating the need for income from ''paying guests.'' This leads to the idea of Nan assisting her aunt upon her arrival at ''Gay Bowers,'' where they anticipate the arrival of new guests, including a professor recovering from illness and an American family, setting the stage for interactions that promise to be both enlightening and comedic.