What Will People Say? A Novel Ongoing

Fresh from military service in the Philippines, Lieutenant John Forbes returns to a New York City transformed by breakneck modernity, roaring motorcars, and glittering excess. From the top of a Fifth Avenue bus, an enigmatic woman in an open car captivates him, her striking bird-of-paradise plume signaling an irresistible riddle. She is Persis Cabot, a dazzling queen of Manhattan high society who moves effortlessly through lavish ballrooms, cabarets, and the dizzying craze of the modern tango. Drawn inexorably into her orbit, Forbes finds himself hopelessly entranced by her vibrant charm. Yet Persis is ensnared by the ruthless expectations of her social set, torn between the genuine passion Forbes offers and the glittering fortune required to sustain her extravagant lifestyle. As whispers swell and desires clash against propriety, both must navigate a treacherous world ruled by one stifling question: what will people say?