Cowardice Court

"Cowardice Court" by George Barr McCutcheon is a story that dives into a heated conflict between Lord Bazelhurst, a noble with a chip on his shoulder, and Randolph Shaw, a spirited American landowner, whose clash is fueled by a disagreement over prized fishing territory. The novel uses smart humor to show the back-and-forth between the high-society Bazelhurst and the straightforward Shaw, who refuses to be pushed around. As the story begins, the reader sees that Bazelhurst and his group are annoyed by Shaw’s fishing, which starts a battle between the stuck-up English nobles and the daring American. Penelope, Bazelhurst's insightful sister, becomes very important as her thoughts about Shaw and the foolishness of her brother change, enriching the story with growing relationships across social class and a range of funny and serious moments from the clashing characters.