Cynthia's Chauffeur

About the book

On Derby Day, Lord Medenham's plans change when a chauffeur's accident threatens an American visitor's tour of England. Taking over the driving initially looks like an entertaining improvisation. Cynthia Vanrenen and her chaperon, Mrs. Devar, however, do not know the full identity of the man guiding their journey, and his growing attachment to Cynthia makes the concealment increasingly consequential. Louis Tracy combines the pleasures of early motoring with the complications of class, mistaken assumptions, and competing social intentions. Roads, hotels, and historic places provide repeated opportunities for characters to learn more about one another without necessarily understanding what they learn. The car promises independence from ordinary arrangements, but its passengers carry their expectations and family interests with them into every new stopping place.

• Disguise and identity
• Love and social expectations
• Travel and independence

Why read it

The motor tour keeps changing the setting while bringing the travelers into the close company that complicates Medenham's disguise.

English Grosset and Dunlap text with the 1910 Edward J. Clode copyright