The Key Note: A Novel

"The Key Note: A Novel" by Clara Louise Burnham is a fictional work written in the early 20th century. The story appears to center around Miss Priscilla Burridge, a middle-aged woman managing an inn on a beautiful island, as she interacts with her young boarder, Diana Wilbur, and other colorful characters in her life. The novel likely delves into themes of companionship, summer life, and the complexities of human relationships. The opening of the novel introduces readers to the serene coastal setting and the contrasting personalities of Miss Burridge and her boarder, Diana. Miss Burridge is pragmatic and somewhat frustrated by her reliance on men for house repairs, while Diana is idealistic and romanticizes the natural beauty around them. As the story unfolds, a young man named Philip Barrison—who is visiting the island and has a talent for singing—enters their lives. Their interactions hint at potential romantic developments and set the stage for comedic and heartfelt situations as the characters navigate both personal struggles and burgeoning connections amid the backdrop of summer at the inn. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Clara Louise Burnham was an American novelist. After the success of No Gentlemen (1881), other books followed, including A Sane Lunatic (1882), Dearly Bought (1884), Next Door (1886), Young Maids and Old (1888), The Mistress of Beech Knoll (1890), and Miss Bagg's Secretary (1892). The daughter of George Frederick Root, she wrote the text for several his most successful cantatas. The 1923 film, A Chapter in Her Life is based on Burnham's 1903 novel Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life. Born in Massachusetts, she died at the family home in Maine in 1927.