Poor Relations (1919)

Poor Relations is a novel written by Compton Mackenzie and published in 1919. Set in the early 20th century, the story revolves around the lives of the members of the Bassington family, who are struggling to maintain their social status and financial stability. The family consists of a widowed mother, her three adult children, and their various acquaintances.The eldest son, Richard, is a struggling writer who is in love with his sister-in-law, Julia, who is married to his younger brother, Edward. Edward is a philandering playboy who is constantly in debt and relies on his mother's money to bail him out. The youngest daughter, Rosalie, is a naive and innocent girl who dreams of marrying a wealthy man.As the family's financial situation worsens, they are forced to take in various boarders to make ends meet. These boarders include a German baroness, a retired colonel, and a young artist, all of whom bring their own dramas and complications to the household.The novel is a satirical commentary on the British upper class and their obsession with social status and appearances. Mackenzie uses humor and wit to expose the hypocrisy and absurdity of their behavior, while also exploring themes of love, family, and the struggle for financial security. Overall, Poor Relations is a witty and entertaining novel that provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the British aristocracy during the early 20th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.