The Indifference of Juliet

by Grace S. Richmond, Henry Hutt (Illustrator)

Grace S. Richmond (1866-1959) was an American author. She wrote the Red Pepper Burns series of popular novels. His works include: The Indifference of Juliet (1905), On Christmas Day in the Morning (1905), The Second Violin (1906), On Christmas Day in the Evening (1908), Round the Corner in Gay Street (1908), Red Pepper Burns (1910), Strawberry Acres (1911), Brotherly House (1912), Mrs. Red Pepper (1913), The Twenty-Fourth of June (1914), A Court of Inquiry (1916), Under the Country Sky (1916), The Whistling Mother (1917), Red Pepper's Patients (1917), Enlisting Wife (1918), The Brown Study (1919), Bells of St. John's (1920), Red and Black (1921), Rufus (1923), Red of the Redfields (1924), Cherry Square (1926), Listening Post (1929), High Fences (1930), Red Pepper Returns (1931) and Bachelor's Bounty (1932).

Genres: Classics, Fiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Grace Louise Smith Richmond (1866–1959), American romance novelist created the Dr. R.P. Burns series.

Her first short stories were published in various women's magazines including the Women's Home Companion, Ladies' Home Journal, and Everybody's Magazine as early as 1898. Richmond wrote 27 novels between 1905 and 1936. Red Pepper Burns was published in 1910. Like most of her strong-willed yet compassionate characters, R.P. Burns is a kind, old-souled country doctor who makes house calls. His fiery red hair and temper to match earned him his nickname Red Pepper, though he is still a charming and endearing gentleman. Mrs. Red Pepper (1913), Red Pepper's Patients (1917), and Red of the Redfields (1924) followed.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alas, I was fairly indifferent to this book and almost didn't finish it, though I usually love Grace S. Richmond. It began charmingly, with a delightful little twist to the typical romance. But, once our couple was (quickly) settled into wedded bliss it all got rather dull. Juliet and Anthony were just too perfect and it was all rather nettlesome after awhile, especially when they kept being held up as paragons to their far more human friends. Also, nothing much really happens -- except an odd side romance between their friends and it was one I did not particularly care for. Overall, not one of her best, IMO.

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but after that it kind of became just an ode to the art of housekeeping, with an odd side romance and a couple cute kid related incidents thrown in for good measure. The characters were OK but didn't really inspire me to actually care that much about them... overall not a bad read but nothing to write home about either...

[Carol Driver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book (along with many other Grace S. Richmond novels) on my mother’s bookshelf after she passed away. It brought back happy memories of reading these books (published in the early 1900s) when I was a very young teen visiting my grandmother’s house. Reading it through now made me chuckle at how culturally offensive this book would seem today, since the very uncomplicated plot is about falling in love, living very economically, and devoting one’s life to homemaking and hostessing and adoring one’s husband. Juliet is unbelievably perfect, although some minor conflict is introduced when her friend Judith is annoyed at the way her own husband holds up Juliet as a model for all things beautiful and true. Despite the plot that doesn’t fit in today’s world, I enjoyed this quick read. Now I might delve into some of the other classics I found and read as a child like Sandra of the Girl Orchestra by Ruby Lorraine Radford or Bab: A Sub-Deb by Mary Roberts Rinehart. So ridiculously fun! Hopefully the ancient bindings will hold up! :)

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the stories and the writing style of Richmond (very reminiscent of Louisa May Alcott), but many of her novels (or novellas, I suppose, as they're only about 100 pages long) just stop rather than ending, which knocks them down from 5 to 4 stars for me, as I don't feel really satisfied at the end of the story.

This one was a great deal of fun seeing the main couple's first couple years of marriage and the foils of their friends who marry around the same time.

[Jenny K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a mess, wrapping up the story of Juliet in the first couple chapters and then bringing in a long line of other side characters and their stories.
However it was still an enjoyable old fashioned read.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book about domestic life. It's a very unusual plot style, as far as the fiction goes, but very sweet too.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I imprinted too early, but I don't remember Louisa May Alcott ever being quite this black&white preachy about things.... the only good wives and mothers are good women thing made me stabby.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Episodic domestic story/light romance. A little over the top in its idealizing of the main characters, but also a good read for me to consider more intentionality in home-making.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little novel illustrating the virtues and comforts of domesticity.

It makes me want to bake a pie or sew new curtains!