Condensed Novels: New Burlesques

"Condensed Novels: New Burlesques" by Bret Harte is a compilation of funny stories from the late 1800s that makes fun of society, typical characters, and the strange things people do. The story begins by showing us Rudolph of Trulyruralania, a proud and conceited man who likes living in the shadow of his more impressive brother, Lord Burleydon, and shows us how he struggles to find himself and wants to have exciting adventures. The novel starts with Rudolph bragging about himself only to be mocked by his sister-in-law, Rose. As they talk, we see that Rudolph is full of confidence but hasn't really done much. Rose suggests he take a job in diplomacy that could help him get away from his boring life, and after hesitating, Rudolph decides to take a vacation in Trulyruralania, leading to more funny and chaotic situations with mistaken identities and royal secrets, highlighting the fun and silly way Harte tells his stories.