In the Onyx Lobby

"In the Onyx Lobby" by Carolyn Wells is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative intertwines themes of love, ambition, and rivalry primarily surrounding two feuding women, Miss Letitia Prall and Mrs. Everett, who share a long-standing animosity. At the heart of this drama is Richard Bates, a young inventor caught between his ambitions and familial loyalty, as he navigates his feelings for Dorcas Everett amidst the backdrop of their mothers' feud. At the start of "In the Onyx Lobby," we are introduced to the fraught dynamics between Miss Prall and Mrs. Everett, residents of The Campanile, who have maintained their rivalry for several decades. Richard Bates, Miss Prall's nephew, is reluctant to take up his Uncle Binney's offer to join a bakery business, preferring to pursue his inventive ideas. However, when Bates and Dorcas Everett's romantic feelings emerge, the tension escalates as both young lovers grapple with their mothers' opposition and the pressures stemming from their families’ feud. This complex beginning sets the stage for a murder mystery that intertwines personal relationships with deeper themes of social class and gender roles, as well as the potential consequences of long-held grudges.