What Will People Say? A Novel

"What Will People Say?" by Rupert Hughes is a novel that follows Lieutenant Harvey Forbes, a soldier back from the Philippines, as he gets used to New York City. The story centers on his interest in the beautiful women of high society, mainly a mysterious woman he sees on Fifth Avenue. The book seems to be about love, what society expects, and how confusing people can be in a fast-changing city. When the story begins, Lieutenant Forbes watches the busy streets of New York and thinks about his time away. He is fascinated by all the women, especially one with a beautiful hat. He wants to see her face and feels both admiration and envy, which makes him want to find out who she is. The story shows the differences between fancy city life and personal struggles, as Forbes observes the easy relationships of the wealthy while dealing with his own feelings and figuring out what love and desire mean in this lively society.