A Counterfeit Presentment; and The Parlour Car

The Counterfeit Presentment; and The Parlour Car is a collection of two novellas by William Dean Howells published in 1887. The first story A Counterfeit Presentment is a psychological tale that explores themes of self-perception illusion and romantic ideals. The plot revolves around a man who after a long separation reunites with his beloved only to find that the woman he once idealized no longer matches the image he had of her in his mind. The story delves into the gap between reality and illusion as the protagonist is forced to confront his own idealized notions of love and beauty. In the second novella The Parlour Car Howells examines the social dynamics and class distinctions through the lens of a train journey. The story centers on a young man and a woman who meet on a train where their interaction leads to a subtle exploration of societal expectations class and human behavior. The novella focuses on the nuances of social interaction with Howells offering a critical view of the class structures that shape human relationships in everyday life.