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Cover of The Best Man (Romance Classic)

The Best Man (Romance Classic)

Written by Grace Livingston Hill

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171 pages, about 3 hours of reading

Fiction

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About this book

This eBook edition of "The Best Man" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. A young man in the employ of the government secret service is sent from Washington to New York on a delicate mission. On his return, with the papers for which he had been sent in his possession, he is obliged to evade pursuit. Followed by his enemies, he takes refuge in the vestibule of a church, where he is received joyously by a group of people who seem to take him for a missing member of a wedding party. He finds himself propelled up the aisle and is under the impression that he is acting as the best man. It is only when the ceremony is nearly over that he realizes that he is being married.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Best Man (Romance Classic), written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • beginner
  • romantic
  • humorous
  • lighthearted

In Grace Livingston Hill's classic romance, "The Best Man," a government secret service agent finds his delicate mission complicated by an unexpected turn of events. While evading pursuit after securing crucial papers in New York, he seeks refuge in a church, only to be mistaken for a missing member of a wedding party. Joyously welcomed, he is propelled down the aisle, assuming he is merely stepping in as the best man. The agent's resourcefulness is tested not by his enemies, but by the rapidly unfolding ceremony, leading to a shocking realization that he has become the unwitting groom himself.

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Key themes

Mistaken Identity and Deception
Central to the plot, the agent is mistaken for the best man, leading to his unwitting participation in the wedding. This theme explores the humorous and dramatic consequences of miscommunication, assumptions, and the blurring lines between acting a part and living a reality. The agent's initial 'deception' is born of necessity, but quickly evolves into an unforeseen personal entanglement.
Fate vs. Free Will
The entire premise of the book hinges on a series of coincidences that lead the protagonist into an accidental marriage. This raises questions about whether his destiny was predetermined, or if his choices (to flee into the church) led to an unforeseen outcome that he must now navigate. The 'accidental' nature of the marriage strongly suggests a guiding hand of fate or Providence.
The Unforeseen Path to Love
As a 'Romance Classic,' a core theme is the unexpected discovery of love. The story subverts traditional courtship narratives by forcing a marriage first, then allowing for the development of romantic feelings. This highlights the idea that love can blossom from the most improbable circumstances, and that initial commitment, even if accidental, can lead to genuine affection and partnership.

Worth discussing

How does the concept of 'fate' play into the agent's accidental marriage? Could it be seen as divine intervention or pure coincidence?

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