Love's Shadow (1908) is a novel by Ada Leverson. Having established
herself as a journalist and short story writer, Leverson published her
debut novel in 1907 to moderate acclaim. Entertaining and effortlessly
witty, Leverson's prose paints a stunning portrait of the Edwardian era,
a time when hope and relative peace proved prosperous for many. Often
compared to her close friend Oscar Wilde, Leverson, a pioneering Jewish
woman, remains a unique and refreshing voice in English literature.
Love's Shadow is the first installment in her Little Ottleys
trilogy, a series of novels exploring the romantic lives of a
hilariously diverse group of friends. Edith and Bruce Ottley seem to
have it all--a charming flat, a healthy child, and a group of
entertaining friends. Although they are far from perfect--Bruce can be
jealous and quite the hypochondriac at times--their marriage remains
strong and their home remains a place of refuge to their frequently
lovelorn comrades. Among a dizzying array of faces and names, Hyacinth
Verney, Mrs. Eugenia Raymond, Cecil Reeve, and Lord Selsey stand out.
Although Hyacinth loves Cecil, a match favored by his uncle Lord Selsey,
the young man seems inexplicably smitten with the widow Eugenia, who has
no interest in marrying again. Edith and Bruce do their best to make
themselves hospitable while defending their home against the hostilities
of love, but the hearts and minds of their eclectic guests prove
difficult to assuage. Love's Shadow is a humorous tale of romance and
desire from Ada Leverson, an underappreciated novelist of the Edwardian
era. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset
manuscript, this edition of Ada Leverson's Love's Shadow is a classic
work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
