In Brief Authority

"In Brief Authority" by F. Anstey is a whimsical story about the Wibberley-Stimpson family's ordinary lives turning upside down when they're asked to participate in a local pageant and find themselves transported to the enchanted world of Märchenland. The novel uses humor and fantasy to lightly poke fun at social expectations, especially through Mrs. Stimpson's character, who is both thrilled and anxious about her family's sudden rise in status. The story begins with an unexpected visit from Lady Harriet Elmslie, which Mrs. Stimpson sees as a chance to improve her social standing, though the visit is actually about a former servant, and this misunderstanding leads to a chain of funny and strange events. Mrs. Stimpson's eagerness and the absurd situations that follow create a lighthearted and critical look into the social climbing and pretensions of the time.