The Social Secretary

"The Social Secretary" by David Graham Phillips is a story set in early 1900s Washington, D.C., about a woman named Augusta Talltowers finding her place as a social secretary while challenging social expectations and traditions. We see Augusta’s conflicting feelings about marriage and her wish for a real purpose as she starts this new chapter and deals with a persistent guy named Jim. Augusta soon finds herself juggling not only work duties dealing with the Burke family, but also the complicated social scene of Washington society, where people are driven by personal and political ambition. Readers will follow Augusta's journey as she grapples with relationships, outdated social norms, and defining her dreams.