The Man in Lonely Land

"The Man in Lonely Land" by Kate Langley Bosher is a story set in the early 1900s, centered around Winthrop Laine, a prosperous man struggling with loneliness and the weight of his achievements, that looks at themes of love, friendship, and what society expects of people, as Laine deals with both the good and bad parts of relationships. We first see Laine returning home on a gloomy winter day to his sick dog, General. Laine thinks about his life and the people in it, feeling both annoyed and sad about being alone. His sister, Mrs. Channing Warrick, invites him to dinner, where he meets his cousin, Claudia Keith. As Laine and Claudia spend time together, his initial hesitation fades, and he finds himself drawn to her, even as his feelings get complicated. This beginning kicks off a story of change and the examination of personal relationships against a backdrop of social events and family responsibilities.