Coelebs: The Love Story of a Bachelor

"Coelebs: The Love Story of a Bachelor" by F. E. Mills Young is a story set in the early 1900s that follows John Musgrave, a lifelong bachelor in the town of Moresby, as he lives his quiet life focused on his home and church community. Musgrave deals with his loneliness and resists change, interacting with characters like Eliza, his practical maid, and Mrs. Chadwick, a forward-thinking woman who challenges his traditional views. The story begins by showing Musgrave's daily routines and his reflections on being alone. We learn about his quirks as he watches Eliza at work. We also that when his closest family member gets married and leaves his life he feels a deep loss. A conversation with the local priest shows Musgrave's fears about starting a relationship, especially with women, and makes it clear that he has never been in love. Mrs. Chadwick's arrival and her modern beliefs start to shake up Musgrave's carefully planned life, suggesting that he will have to change as the story goes on.