William John Locke (1863–1930)

I read this just a little at a time, and as a result didn't get into the story as much as I might have otherwise, but it was pretty good. Simon de Gex has been informed that he will probably die within the next six months, so he determines to chuck his political career and do some good deeds while he still can. This mainly takes the form of trying to separate his friend from a woman reputed to be a gold-digger seductress. This proves possible, but complicated. The novel veers between farce and seriousness, but I think that's probably just a reflection of the main character's frame of mind: he is upset about a lot of things in his life, but tries to carry it off lightly. The most unusual events have to do with Anastasius Papadopoulos, a midget cat trainer with a few screws loose. While he provides lots of humor, he (and later his cats) also precipitate the dramatic confrontations of the story.… (more)

Four stars based on the first and largest part of the book, which was funny and original. The last third or so was pretty melodramatic and felt like a downer to me, but things ended well. With William J. Locke, I've discovered that you never can quite tell what's going to happen next, and his characters are sometimes a random bunch.

Sir Marcus Ordeyne, an ex-schoolteacher turned nobleman after some distant relatives die, is priggishly pleased with his chosen lifestyle. He's a detached, philosophic book collector who can toss off medieval or ancient names and stories in regular conversation. He's actually a pretty nice guy but in need of some shaking up. This happens when he meets Carlotta, a teenage Turkish beauty who was trying to elope but was abandoned by her fiancé. She appeals to Sir Marcus for advice, and circumstances dictate that he more or less adopt her. This scandalizes London. It also begins the process of humanizing Sir Marcus. Carlotta is alarming and charming, and Sir Marcus's reactions play very well.
Things get topsy turvy by the end and there are mental and moral catastrophes that are darker than the rest of the book. But the bulk of it felt so original that I overall enjoyed it.… (more)

As I've come to expect from this author, the story won't stay in one place for too long. His people are not archetypal either; they're all pretty distinct.
Martin and Corinna rediscover each other in Paris--they're old friends, and they're both at loose ends with no sure purpose in life. Just then they run into a Fortinbras, a man who styles himself "the merchant of happiness." For a small fee he listens to anybody's problems and then advises them.
In Martin and Corinna's case, he advises a long bicycle trip, destination: Brantome, a rural village where the inn is run by Fortinbras' family. Once there, anything can happen. People fall in and out of love. Martin becomes a waiter extraordinaire. A trip to Cairo springs up. World War I happens. A lot of things happen on the way to a simple, happy ending. If you like Locke, you will like this.… (more)