Princess Mary's Gift Book: All profits on sale given to the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund which is acting in Conjunction with The National Relief Fund

In Short

Published in 1914 to support Queen Mary’s "Work for Women" Fund during the outbreak of the First World War, this anthology gathers stories, essays, and poems by major literary figures of the era. The selections range from cozy home-front comedies and children's fantasies to dramatic accounts of maritime rescues, historical conflicts, and wartime sacrifice. Combining lightweight parlor entertainment with urgent patriotic appeals, the volume captures the cultural mood of early twentieth-century Britain. It remains an illuminating artifact of home-front literature, showcasing how popular fiction and verse were mobilized for humanitarian aid at the onset of global conflict.

The Story

The volume opens with lighthearted domestic vignettes and comedic social observations, establishing a reassuring portrait of civilian life before turning toward themes of duty and peril. Early selections observe small-town dynamics and gentle eccentricities, such as an overbearing American woman who disrupts a quiet English village by hosting lavish holiday gatherings and insisting on an unearned title. As the text shifts to coastal settings, the tone grows more dramatic. In one maritime episode, a violent northeast storm drives a Welsh schooner toward the jagged rocks of the Isle of Man. Local Manxmen assemble on the quay, battling ferocious winds and churning grey seas in a lifeboat to rescue the stranded crew, while a brave crew of seven later boards the disabled vessel to secure her against the cliffs.

Military themes emerge through both historical and contemporary lenses. In an Egyptian military outpost, Bimbashi Hilary Joyce interrogates a mysterious, silent Arab captive who continuously twitches his face, leaving the officer baffled as to whether the man is a spy, a fool, or a mute. Farther south, during the Zulu War, the swift runner Magepa—known as "The Buck"—flees across the landscape carrying his young grandson strapped to his back, desperately straining to reach safety at the river while pursued by hostile warriors. On the home front, an artist painting a wounded soldier hires a young man in khaki as his model, only to discover that the man has fallen in love with his spirited daughter, Kitty, who fiercely rejects a prearranged marriage to a wealthy suitor in order to choose her own path.

Spiritual and allegorical narratives further expand the anthology's scope. A group of women debate whether modern believers can still see angels, concluding that divine messengers appear today in ordinary, unglamourous disguises to reassure the faithful. A child encounters a demanding "good fairy" who alters the physics of her house's staircase and dresses her instantly for a journey through a newly repeated past. Meanwhile, a bishop addresses thousands of gathered soldiers on a sunlit common, preaching the glory of freedom, the beauty of the Kentish countryside, and the grave duty to protect their homeland from impending tyranny.

The closing pieces return to intimate human bonds amid historical chaos and hardship. During the French Revolution, a family trapped in a dank Paris prison listens in terror as the September massacres rage outside their grated window. In a modern war zone, villagers and children seek refuge in a dark church crypt while their neighbors vanish among local ruins. Finally, an impoverished Italian organ grinder wanders the streets with his motherless child, Fleur-de-lis, carried in a wooden carriage attached to his street piano, finding renewed hope when a compassionate young woman speaks to him in French and offers a gesture of kindness.

How It Unfolds

The village is upended An ambitious American woman moves into the Manor House, adopts a questionable title, and forces reluctant local gentlemen to decorate Christmas trees and attend frequent dinners.

A storm strikes the coast A fierce gale drives a Welsh schooner toward the cliffs, prompting local Manxmen to launch a lifeboat through heavy surf and secure the abandoned ship before it breaks on the rocks.

A court of inquiry convenes In the Egyptian desert, an officer attempts to question a silent prisoner on a trotting camel, growing frustrated as the man responds only with mysterious facial twitches.

A model enters the studio An artist paints a wounded soldier using a young officer as a model, setting off a swift romance that leads his daughter to defy a wealthy patron's matchmaking plans.

A grandfather flees his pursuers During the Zulu conflict, an aging warrior known for his speed runs toward the river with his grandson tied to his back, struggling under the weight as pursuers close in.

A sermon stirs the troops Addressing five thousand soldiers gathered on a common, a bishop speaks of England's freedom and warns of the grave peril facing their homes and families.

A sanctuary is sought As conflict spreads through a French village, a pastor guides women and children down into a hidden church crypt to shelter them from approaching destruction.

A gentle street encounter An impoverished organ grinder pushes his baby daughter in a custom piano-carriage, finding solace and spiritual renewal after a kindly lady greets them in his native language.

The People

• Mrs. Clegg C. Mimms: An American tenant at the Manor House who insists on being styled "the Honourable" and constantly interrupts her neighbors' quiet lives with mandatory social invitations and elaborate village events.
• Hilary Joyce: A young British officer in Egypt eager to prove his capability to his superiors, who finds himself baffled by a tight-lipped, twitching prisoner brought to his camp.
• Kitty Thorold: A spirited young woman who brusquely rejects a match arranged by an influential older woman, choosing instead to marry a poor soldier who sits as a model in her father's art studio.
• Magepa: An aging Zulu warrior famed for his extraordinary running speed, who uses his remaining strength to carry his young grandson across dangerous terrain to safety.
• The Bishop of London: A prominent preacher who addresses thousands of territorial soldiers lying on a common, appealing to their love of country, family, and freedom to motivate them for war.
• Pierre: A grieving Italian organ grinder who lovingly constructs a small carriage on his street piano for his daughter Fleur-de-lis, maintaining his gentle devotion to her despite deep poverty.

In Its Own Voice

"Hankly, who is a lean, yellow little man, was made to dress himself up as 'Father Christmas.'" An observer describes how the intrusive Mrs. Mimms press-ganged local gentlemen into assisting with her lavish village holiday party.

"He sat behind a camp-table, and the prisoner, strongly guarded, was led up to him." Bimbashi Hilary Joyce prepares to conduct a formal military inquiry under an acacia tree in the Egyptian heat.

"Pierre covered his piano, pinned the rubber-cloth more tightly round Fleur-de-lis's throat, and was preparing to move off in the direction of home..." The devoted street musician carefully protects his small daughter from the weather before packing up his instrument for the night.

What It's Really About

The collection centers on the clash between comfortable routine and sudden, disruptive crises. Across diverse settings—from quiet English villages and art studios to stormy seas and battlefields—the characters face unexpected trials that demand courage, sacrifice, or social adaptability. The text consistently explores the nature of duty, whether expressed through military service, community relief, or family loyalty. Beneath its varied plots lies a nation grappling with the onset of global war, seeking reassurance in traditional virtues of resilience, spiritual faith, and mutual support. Ultimately, the book argues that true nobility is demonstrated not through titles or wealth, but through selfless protection of the vulnerable and steadfast devotion to one's community during times of overarching peril.

Why Read It Today

This anthology appeals to readers interested in early twentieth-century British literature, home-front history, and wartime fundraising artifacts. Reading it provides an immediate sense of the cultural landscape in 1914, revealing how popular authors of the era mobilized their craft to stir public sympathy and raise charitable funds. The prose reflects the distinct literary styles of its period, blending Victorian melodramatic flourishes, colonial adventure tropes, and polite Edwardian social comedy.

Modern readers may find certain aspects challenging, particularly the prevailing patriotic rhetoric, imperial attitudes, and traditional class structures embedded in several stories. Dialect written phonetically and romanticized depictions of colonial conflicts also reflect the unexamined biases of the era. Nevertheless, the collection remains compelling for its sheer variety and historical significance. It offers an authentic glimpse into the values, fears, and artistic expressions of a society on the threshold of massive global transformation, making it a rewarding document for historical reflection.