The Fall of the Curtain

""The Fall of the Curtain"" is a novel written by Harold Begbie. The story is set in the early 20th century in England and follows the lives of two families, the wealthy and aristocratic Renshaws and the working-class Tophams. The novel explores the themes of class, love, and betrayal.The Renshaws are a family of privilege and power, with a long history of political and social influence. The Tophams, on the other hand, are struggling to make ends meet and are often at the mercy of the Renshaws. The two families are brought together when their children fall in love, but their relationship is threatened by the class divide between them.As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed and betrayals are uncovered, leading to a dramatic climax that changes the lives of both families forever. ""The Fall of the Curtain"" is a compelling story of love, ambition, and the struggle for power in a society divided by class.1901. Begins: Christmas day, good reader. Morning service in the village church was over, and old Gregory Brough, his wife, and his callow brood were trooping over the snow-covered fields of Poyntz Park on their way home to dinner. Squire Brough was a jolly tubby little fellow, carrying his sixty years as lightly as a babe astride of a rocking-horse carries cocked hat and tin sword. His beaming red face and white hair gave him a character that his heart did not belie. As good a squire as ever farmed English acres and proved friend-in-need to the people on his estate was honest old Gregory; and though his income had steadily declined as his olive branches multiplied round about his table he kept a stout heart to the world and faced the future with as breezy a courage as ever Sir Geoffrey Peveril bore into conflict against kennel-blooded, clip-eared, cuckoldy Roundheads.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.