“My books that I have enjoyed most, if a writer may enjoy her own work,
have not been those dealing with New York social life, but my tales of
the south. Charles A. Dana, of the New York ‘Sun,’ was unconsciously
responsible for my ‘Old Dominion.’ He gave me the agreeable task of
editing the ‘Monticello Letters,’ and from them I gleaned a story which
outlined my ‘Old Dominion.’ But the editors cry for stories of New York
social life, to gratify the popular demand.”
Mrs. Harrison’s books are so well known that it is unnecessary to dwell
on their acknowledged merit, vividness, and truthfulness to life. To
the general public, there is something fascinating about a New York
social story, dealing with the millionaire’s club life, woman’s teas,
and love’s broken lances. Besides the general desire for a good social
novel, there is a morbid, unsatiated desire to pry into the doings,
customs and manners of the rich. It is with agreeable expectations
that one picks up one of Mrs. Harrison’s books; it is almost with the
knowledge that you will be entertained.