This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... LOVE INSURANCE CHAPTER I A SPORTING PROPOSITION OUTSIDE a gilt-lettered door on the seventeenth floor of a New York office building, a tall young man in a fur-lined coat stood shivering. Why did he shiver in that coat? He shivered because he was fussed, poor chap. Because he was rattled, from the soles of his custom-made boots to the apex of his Piccadilly hat. A painful, palpitating spectacle, he stood. Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, the business of the American branch of that famous marine insurance firm, Lloyds, of London-- usually termed in magazine articles "The Greatest Gambling Institution in the World"--went on oblivious to the shiverer who approached. The shiverer, with a nervous movement, shifted his walking-stick to his left hand, and laid his right on the door-knob. Though he is not at his best, let us take a look at him. Tall, as has been noted, perfectly garbed after London's taste, mild and blue as to eye, blond as to hair. A handsome, if somewhat weak face. Very distinguished -- even aristocratic -- in appearance. Perhaps--the thrill for us democrats here!-- of the nobility. And at this moment sadly in need of a generous dose of that courage that abounds--see any book of familiar quotations-- on the playing fields of Eton. Utterly destitute of the Eton or any other brand, he pushed open the door. The click of two dozen American typewriters smote upon his hearing. An office boy of the dominant New York race demanded in loud indiscreet tones his business there. "My business," said the tall young man weakly, "is with Lloyds, of London." The boy wandered off down that stenographerbordered lane. In a moment he was back. "Mr. Thacker'll see you," he announced. He followed the boy, did the tall young man. His courage...

本作の真髄は、愛という不確実な感情を保険という枠組みで捉える皮肉な知性にあります。軽妙な喜劇の底流には、未来を支配しようとする人間の傲慢さへの鋭い風刺が込められています。端正な文体で描かれる英国的な気品と米国の合理性の衝突は、百余年を経た今もなお瑞々しい魅力を放っています。 映像版では活劇的な躍動感が強調されますが、心理的な機微を緻密に味わえるのは活字の特権です。原作の冷徹な観察眼と映像のダイナミズムを比較することで、愛の滑稽さがより立体的に浮かび上がるでしょう。両メディアの対比こそが、この不朽の物語を真に味わい尽くす鍵となります。