A House-Party

This richly varied volume gathers three works by Ouida, whose fiction is known for its vivid style, emotional force, and keen eye for social nuance. A House-Party unfolds in an aristocratic country-house world where polished hospitality conceals rivalry, money troubles, class anxiety, and marital unease, while Brandolin's wit and charm stir both admiration and deeper feeling. A lyrical poem within the narrative and the heroine's startled response add a note of tenderness and devotion, enriching the book's psychological and moral intensity. Alongside this, the letters and conversations of the volume offer unsparing counsel on marriage: wives are urged to temper jealousy, curb romantic illusions, and meet male vanity with tact, humor, and self-control. Princess di San Zenone's troubled reflections on her restless husband and the cultural gulf between Italian and English life deepen the sense of loneliness beneath domestic respectability. Darkly witty, socially observant, and emotionally charged, the collection blends society drama, psychological insight, and lyrical melancholy. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.