The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield

I have selected a short story for the next meetup. We can choose a longer book for the December meeting at the event. This is public domain, and the link will take you to the Project Gutenberg page for this author's collected stories. We can also discuss options for a different venue, if desired.

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1429

The opening of "The Garden Party" introduces a beautiful summer day filled with preparations for the titular garden party hosted by the Burnell family. The atmosphere is lively as Laura Burnell, the main character, navigates family dynamics while arranging the event. She interacts with the charismatic workmen setting up the marquee and contemplates her position within the established social order. Amid the joyful preparations, the news of a tragic accident—a local man’s death—complicates Laura’s feelings about the day, leading her to question the morality of celebrating such a moment when tragedy is occurring nearby. This sets the stage for a story rife with tension between personal sensibility and societal expectations.