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So Long at the Fair
In 1889, a young Englishwoman (Vicky) and her brother (Johnny) arrive in Paris to see the Exposition Universelle.
This is Vicky's first time in Paris, and after checking into a hotel, she drags her tired brother to dinner and the famous Moulin Rouge. She finally retires for the night, while Johnny stays out for a late-night drink.
The next morning, Vicky finds a blank wall where Johnny's room used to be. When she questions the hotel's owner and manager, they claim she arrived alone, and the room number she mentions as her brother's now adorns the common bathroom...
This is Vicky's first time in Paris, and after checking into a hotel, she drags her tired brother to dinner and the famous Moulin Rouge. She finally retires for the night, while Johnny stays out for a late-night drink.
The next morning, Vicky finds a blank wall where Johnny's room used to be. When she questions the hotel's owner and manager, they claim she arrived alone, and the room number she mentions as her brother's now adorns the common bathroom...
- GenresMystery
172 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 3, 2026
Delightful light vintage novel with a coming of age arc and a mystery about a disappearing brother, à la The Lady Vanishes, set in Paris in 1889 with wonderful descriptions of the Exposition Universelle. And who doesn’t love a last minute declaration of love at a train station?? Real skill in the writing and characterisations.
I wish someone would put it back in print, I’d love a physical copy or even an ebook (I had to read this on a digitised online library, HathiTrust). The only copy I can find in my country is $79!
I wish someone would put it back in print, I’d love a physical copy or even an ebook (I had to read this on a digitised online library, HathiTrust). The only copy I can find in my country is $79!
January 17, 2026
So, first of all, this is not an easy book to find BUT Google has digitized it, and the pages are hosted at HathiTrust, where it's quite easy to read it in a browser.
It's a quick read, very atmospheric of Paris at the end of the 19th century. 1889, to be exact. The Eiffel Tower is new, and the world is coming to France for an Exposition of enormous proportions. It's on the eve of the fair that Vicky Barton and her brother Johnnie arrive, checking in to their hotel into Rooms 38 and 39. They are going to live it up at the Paris Exposition.
Until Vicky awakes the next morning to be told that there never was a Room 39 and there never was a brother.
The tension ramps up from there in a very entertaining and somewhat suspenseful read. There aren't a ton of twists and turns, as it's a fairly short novel, but it's quite a competent little adventure and does a fantastic job of crystallizing one moment in the history of Paris.
I know a movie was made from it in 1950, which I'm now a bit curious to see.
It's a quick read, very atmospheric of Paris at the end of the 19th century. 1889, to be exact. The Eiffel Tower is new, and the world is coming to France for an Exposition of enormous proportions. It's on the eve of the fair that Vicky Barton and her brother Johnnie arrive, checking in to their hotel into Rooms 38 and 39. They are going to live it up at the Paris Exposition.
Until Vicky awakes the next morning to be told that there never was a Room 39 and there never was a brother.
The tension ramps up from there in a very entertaining and somewhat suspenseful read. There aren't a ton of twists and turns, as it's a fairly short novel, but it's quite a competent little adventure and does a fantastic job of crystallizing one moment in the history of Paris.
I know a movie was made from it in 1950, which I'm now a bit curious to see.
September 15, 2014
I was just wondering through the isles of my local library one day and this book happened to have caught my eye. I have never heard of the author or of this book before. The story line intrigued me and so I am quite glad that fate has put this book in my life. It is an easy day reader written in 1947 about a tale that takes place in 1889 Paris as the Exposition is taking place. It has love, adventure, and mystery with Paris as the back drop. I have enjoyed this book and do recommend it...
April 29, 2009
Sort of a poor man's The Lady Vanishes. Read after having seen the film. Still nicely creepy and suspenseful :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews