The Need of Change

by Julian Street

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. 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 the original work.

79 pages, book

First published January 1, 1909

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book comes along that you must instantly read aloud to the person lucky enough to be nearest you at the time because not to share the hilarity and joy would be inconceivable. This little gem of a story is one of those cases. If the thought of observing a well-intentioned but painfully awkward American man's first encounters with a very correct Edwardian valet suggests to you a ripe field for comedy, you have no idea.

[Estott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant lightweight comedy of manners and embarrassment from another age.

[Truehobbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the German translation, called "Wochenend auf Schloß Denbeck", found for a few pennies in a library book sale. Very amusing short book, more like an extended anecdote.

An American couple makes friends with a British couple while on holiday in Bavaria. They get invited to the English couple's home - which turns out to be a major castle, complete with servants and dinner parties. While the American wife takes to it like a duck to water, the husband is just out of his depth and feeling so insecure as to cause some amusing panicky reactions on his part.

(My edition: Herbig Verlag, 1967)

[Caryn Hederman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction. Sadly out of print! But you can find copies here and there on Ebay, Amazon, etc. This is a short, funny essay narrated by the eternally happy go lucky American abroad, Mr. Wooley, describing the hospitality of an extremely British couple in the early 1900s. American abroad meets British valet. Very funny, very short.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars