Orpheus in Mayfair, and Other Stories and Sketches

"Orpheus in Mayfair, and Other Stories and Sketches" by Maurice Baring is a compilation of short narratives from the early 1900s that explores the lives and challenges faced by artists and musicians as they pursue their creative dreams amidst the expectations and complications of society and love. The initial story showcases Heraclius Themistocles Margaritis, a modest Greek musician residing in London, who hopes to achieve recognition by sharing the melodies of his culture, teaching music and Greek to survive, his ambition is ignited by an invitation to perform at a notable event, but he is forced to make a difficult choice when his child becomes unwell. Stuck between his desire for success and family responsibility, the story looks at the sacrifices people make, how short-lived fame is, and the appeal of wanting to create art. This sets the stage for the rest of the collection, where readers will find a variety of stories about people and the worlds that they lived in.