The Jugglers: A Story

"The Jugglers: A Story" by Molly Elliot Seawell is a story set in the early 1900s, following Diane Dorian, a gifted singer in a theater group, as she faces a big decision when the charming Marquis Egmont de St. Angel asks her to marry him. The story looks at love, wanting to get ahead, and figuring out who you are, all while Diane tries to balance her dreams of being famous with her new life in high society. The reader first meets a close-knit group of traveling performers as they discuss their winter plans, the beginning sets the stage for Diane’s desire for something more, especially shining a light on her relationships with Jean Leroux and François le Bourgeois. Diane’s acceptance of the Marquis's offer sets off a series of events where her ambitions and new social position lead to disagreements, suggesting deeper emotional struggles to come.