Franklin Kane

"Franklin Kane" by Anne Douglas Sedgwick is a story that follows Miss Althea Jakes, a wealthy American woman, as she arrives back at her usual Paris hotel after years of traveling the world. It looks at big ideas like figuring out who you are, feeling unhappy, and trying to find real meaning in a life that seems full of fancy but empty things, as Althea deals with feeling tired and alone even though she has done so much and met so many people. The story starts with Miss Jakes thinking about her trip from Basle and how she always comes back to Paris for new clothes, which makes her wonder why she travels at all. Even though she has good taste and has seen a lot of Europe, she feels more and more cut off from others. As she talks to her maid Amélie and thinks about the people around her—especially her friends and the idea that she should get married—it is clear that Althea is fighting inner battles. When Franklin Winslow Kane, who keeps asking her to marry him, and Helen Buchanan, a strange young woman, come into the picture, things get ready for Althea to go on a life-changing journey to find connection, love, and a better understanding of herself.