It is a short novel, about 100 pages, large print. Has nice illustrations that make it a worthy keep sake.

Aside from that, it is the story of a rather quiet man who hardly says anything at all. He is in the state's congress and is well respected by his peers and constituents. However, his neighbors begin to see him acting strangely. He talks to himself and is doing strange things around his house.

However, all is not what it seems to be and comes to fruition on Christmas Eve.

I didn't find myself totally into the holiday spirit after reading the book, however, I did like the "quaint" and "folksy" attitude of the book. Something fun to read in the course of an hour. Not Tarkington's best, but definitely interesting and motivating for the holidays.

Tarkington has filled a book with a hodge-podge of essays and short stories on the coming of the mechanical age. The book covers the changes of people's morals and habits with the coming of electricity, cars, and other inventions. The perspective is written by someone who has lived through the tumultuous changes of the time.

Each story or chapter explains exactly what impact a particular invention made upon society. The biggest one, according to Tarkington, is the car. The car appears to have ushered in major societal changes: people went into debt to purchase one, people's live became more rushed and hurried, speed was important, they became a status symbol, necking parties occurred, women cut their hair and wore short clothes so as not to be harassed by the wind. The book also mentions the invention of the airplane, electricity, women's suffrage, prohibition, and the introduction of "sex" plays, novels, and movies. Also, the changing of the moral guard is also written about.

This book is more like a Tarkington-perspective history book rather than a work of fiction. Also, those who wonder why the moral changes in the youth of today and yesterday can look into this book and see that people back at the turn of the century were raising the same questions and were dealing with the same issues. Tarkington attempts to answer them, but I felt his answers and explanations fell short. The book was also a bit of a challenge to read -- as sometimes it drifted into very deep and subjects. Also, the chapters themselves were discontinuous and were jumpy. This is not a book for light reading (like many other Tarkington novels).

I had moderately high expectations for this novel and it did deliver.

Considering the time it was written (1899) "The Gentleman From Indiana" is filled with forward thinking -- diversity, condemnation of prejudice, equal rights for women. As a native Hoosier, Tarkington is clearly projecting himself through the main character, offering insight into his own passage into middle age (at the ripe old age of 30!) and uneasiness facing mortality. More subtle and slower-paced than some of his more well-know works, such as "The Magnificent Ambersons," it's definitely worth forging through. Tarkington's eloquence shines.

After Tarkington's death, his nephews gathered some of his letters that he had written between 1903 and 1904 and published them in a book. The letters detail Tarkington's impression of his first visit to Europe. Along with the letters are some crude sketches that Tarkington used to illustrate what he saw.

The letters reveal the personality of Tarkington. In many ways, the characters he wrote about in his novels were similar to himself or his family members. He seemed to have a good nature about him and looked upon the adversities of traveling in Europe with an amiable mind. Most of the letters were funny, however, they also talk about historical sites, many of which have been destroyed by the two world wars.

This book is a short novel about the production of a play. Stewart Camby has spent the past two years writing and polishing his masterpiece. The book starts at the beginning of dress rehearsals. Camby's cast and managerial staff includes a wide variety of characters that cause ultimately Camby consternation.

For instance, the famous, lead actor Talbot Potter constantly insists that the Camby change the play to suit him. Talbot, a bachelor, is also smitten with Wanda Malone, the ingenue. He wants her part to stand out and eventually have his character fall in love with her (which mirrors his real life feelings for Wanda). Camby's once perfect play must suit Talbot's fickle tastes as Camby himself becomes infatuated with Wanda. Before the end of the book, Camby's play has changed drastically from what it used to be to hold the actor's interest.

Tarkington writes an interesting and funny look at the production of a play. The neurotic characters are a joy. However, the start of the book was a little confusing, but once the story gets rolling the characters come alive. The ending was also a surprise and made the book worthwhile.

Josephine Oakly is opinionated, hard headed and intends to have her way regardless of who gets in her path. She is the heir of her grandfather's museum of art and is determined to insure that his artistic heritage continues. After all, only he understood what is good art and passed this quality down to his grand-daughter. What could those minions who staff the museum know about art?

Enter into the intrigue and politics of an art museum and its warring factions who intend to overwhelm each other at any cost. Josephine is at the center of the conflict with her grand-father's staff and won't give an inch. A young man named Baily (Josephine's cousin) comes to the museum for emotional and spiritual solace only to find turmoil. He has his own demons to face from being wounded both physically and psychologically in the war (World War II). Will this war of artistic control make or break this young man as he attempts to come to terms with himself and his relationship with Josephine?

Booth Tarkington has given us a tale with untold possibilities as a man looks through the image of a selfish woman and finds far more than what he bargained for. Baily is intrigued and repeled by his cousin who is his opposite in temperament. He must decide what he must do if he intends to become a whole man.

The story was enjoyable but dragged on at times. Josephine's portrayal was at times too negative to the point of almost being unbelievable. You find yourself wondering what could Baily possibly see in such a woman? This is not one of Tarkington's best works but you get a taste of the intrigue and manipulations of people who think that they're superior to others. You are also given the pleasure of seeing beyond the images people portray.

A novel set in the middle of WW2 about a lieutenant returning from the South Pacific who is wounded and shell-shocked. To recover, his colonel instructs him to become an assistant curator at his grand father's art museum.

There he meets the strong-willed, controlling, and virulent Josephine, a distant cousin of his. Nobody much cares about her as she is very domineering and unscrupulous, yet she does have a good side about her and she is very beautiful. Recently jilted by her finance, our lieutenant, figuring his life is worthless, offers to marry his cousin so she can save face.

Through their brief courtship, he regains his strength and his will to live. In the end he puts Josephine in her place but he has fallen in love with her. However, he will not marry her until she changes. They exchange words and he returns to the front with a dramatic ending.

This was engaging book, but at times it could be long-winded and a little hard to follow. However, it was interesting and enjoyed reading it. The "Image of Josephine" title came about in that the lieutenant knew what he was getting in Josephine -- that there was nothing hidden, where as most everyone else hides their faults.

This has to be my favorite book ever. I love the way Booth Tarkington portrays the human emotion and spirit on the page. Josephine is a wonderful character and the ending of this book is fantastic. What is even more fantastic, however, is how he so capable of writing that makes you actually wish you were there watching the story play out. You will laugh and cry, but most of all you will absolutely love this story. I highly recommend it to all readers.

This short novelette held much promise. I actually read the introduction and was told that this was one of the great "love" stories in American literature.

What I got was a muddled story that was hard to follow and unfeeling. A lowly Frenchman comes to England and notices a lady in the upper class. She has noble blood. He worms his way into an introduction with her under the guise of French nobility and a made up title. She is impressed with him until he is revealed to her as a mere "barber".

Yet he is not all that he seems to be -- as the story reveals much to the woman's regret ( after she learns the truth ).

I am glad this book was short, otherwise I probably would've ditched it after page 50... but I figured I was already almost half way through and stuck with it... It started to make sense near the end but there seemed to be about 35 pages of confusion occurring.

Last reviewer missed the Tark's irony. This is not romance; it's a warning about accepting the exterior. The closest irony I can compare it to is Tom "freeing" Jim at the end of Huck Finn. One impish fellow plays a wonderfull dating game. He survives dangers, costume changes(and some fine engravings in the early edition), treachery, duels, all the romantic posturings. But, when he asks if he can be loved simply for himself, not for the trappings,...well the book could end there. I am glad that Tark gave some of the characters their come uppance in the epilogue.

A tale about a social pariah, Joe Louden, who as a young man is maligned and much talked about in the small midwestern town of Canaan. Leader of the talkers is Judge Pike, the richest and most powerful man in the city. Joe, even though he is poor, turns to reading books and studying law in his spare time. He eventually leaves town and gets himself through law school. He begins to practice law and only handles the scoundrels of the town because Pike and the rest of the town scolds anyone who should use his services. With the help of a woman, he wins the respect of Canaan and is able to usurp Pike's power.

I thought this book was fairly dry. There were some interesting parts, but overall, I found it hard to get into. I suspect, Tarkington's early works were not as polished and his older ones.

A story about the most sought after young woman, Julia, and her meddling nephew and niece. The story's primary focus, despite the title, is actually from the niece, Florence, who is 13.

Florence sees something in the town's uncouth loser, named Noble Dill and wants Gentle Julia to marry him. He is one of many wanting Julia's hand in marriage. Her other suitors have more class and wit but have their quirks about them. Julia likes Dill; however like most romances, it is on again off again....

The kids, whose antics and fate interweave trouble for Julia and Dill. Not as funny as Penrod, Tarkington does have some humor here as the kids in their innocent dealings cause turmoil.

The book was a bit uneven and I was left wondering what Julia ever saw in Dill (he is a nice guy but definitely was "geeky"). At the end of the book, the reader is left wondering what will become of their relationship... probably Dill still wanting to marry her and Julia playing games, so nothing was really resolved. The children's antics though were humorous and their were some memorable characters and interesting statements made about relationships (one I remember stating that all the poets say how great they are but in reality they are a lot of work and heartache) .

Written as a play, this book debunks the popular at the time theory that all workers should own all the businesses and that everyone should receive the same pay(from the profits). The story begins with Andrew Gibson, owner of a piano manufacturing company whose successful product is the "Gibson Upright". He is in turmoil with his on-the-verge-of-striking workers. The workers insist on even more benefits than what they currently have (they have now what resembles our modern day work schedule). The workers spout their socialistic beliefs in an attempt to get more out of Gibson, claiming he can afford it with all of his riches.

Gibson, not wishing to concede to their demands, decides to fulfill their wishes. In a comical way, he simply hands over the rights to the factory -- letting the leaders of the strikers run it as they see fit. The workers unite and are excited over this prospect. However, this new routine quickly becomes their undoing as the factory's accountants leave and the workers become even more lazy. Of course, as Tarkington can only do, there is a love story here where Gibson and one of the striking workers have a "bond."

This story was incredibly simple and pointed out some of the fallacies of the Socialist movement. While on some levels, the story works, yet on others it was a bit too contrived. All in all, though, the book/play was fun to read, despite the somewhat sappy plot and ending.