The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary

A fast read not much depth to it. How the city wakes up Aunt Mary's senses and a couple falls in love. Nothing with much meaning but a fun escape.

Rich, elderly and rather deaf, Aunt Mary lives in upstate New York with her long-suffering maid, Lucinda, and taciturn groom, Joshua. She supports her scapegrace nephew, Jack, whose escapades at college and in New York City, which, to his aunt's consternation, frequently need the intervention of the family lawyer. Aunt Mary clucks at the expense of bailing Jack out of trouble each time, but indulgently says, "Boys will be boys," and sends the money. Jack is her darling. Aunt Mary attributes many of Jack's misadventures to the evils of colleges and cities. Jack straightens up for a time after falling in love with his best friend's coquettish sister, Betty, who encourages him to work hard, but when Jack overhears Betty with another man, he goes on a tear that finally gets him expelled, injured and disinherited. How can he be reconciled with both his love and his aunt? What happens when her dear boy's injuries ultimately entice the fond Aunt Mary to the big city?Part humor, part romance, Susan Warner's 1907 novel holds up beautifully. Aunt Mary is a gem. The story moves along, the characterization sparkles and although the transition between Aunt Mary's perspective and that of her nephew is a bit abrupt, it all comes together well.