Connie G's Reviews> The Garden Party

The Sheridans, a wealthy family, are hosting a garden party on a perfect warm day with lavish flowers, a bounty of food, and a band. A delivery man tells them that a poor young man, who lived in a small cottage down the hill, was killed in an accident. This sets off a series of events which show the class division between the rich and the poor. Images are light and beautiful when the preparations for the Sheridan's party are described. In contrast, dark and dreary images describe the grieving people at the Scott's small brown cottage on a gloomy lane.

Daughter Laura Sheridan is a young woman who has some sensitivity regarding the situation, but this is her first encounter with death.(view spoiler)[She concentrates on the beauty of the young man sleeping the sleep of death, rather than the grief and hardship that the working class mourners are experiencing. Laura is coming of age, and still learning about life and death. Her wealthy upbringing allows her to retain some of her dream-like illusions about both life and death.(hide spoiler)]Katherine Mansfield's writing is lovely in her wonderful collectionThe Garden Party and Other Stories.I enjoyed reading "The Garden Party" again with the Short Story Club.