Susan Clegg and a Man in the House

In Short

Set in a turn-of-the-century American village, Anne Warner’s humorous novel centers on the formidable, fiercely independent Susan Clegg as she agrees to board her friend's nephew, Elijah Doxey, while he runs a local newspaper. Over three months, Miss Clegg's spotless routine is upended by the young editor's wild journalistic schemes, community disputes, and domestic misadventures. The story endures for its dry, rhythmic monologues, sharp observational comedy, and affectionate satire of small-town social life.

The Story

Susan Clegg has lived alone in her quiet village ever since her father passed away. Though four local men proposed to her after learning of her inherited wealth, she rejected them all, thoroughly convinced that a man in the house is far more trouble than he is worth. That self-imposed solitude changes when Mr. Kimball persuades her to host Elijah Doxey, a young man who arrives on a freight car alongside a second-hand printing press to establish a local newspaper. In exchange for room and board, Miss Clegg agrees to put up with Elijah for a trial period of three months, hoping the new publication will fix the town’s image in neighboring papers.

Elijah’s arrival brings an immediate wave of disruption. His editorial choices irritate nearly everyone in town. He prints ridiculous nicknames for residents, offends Judge Fitch with preposterous political platform projections, and launches an "Advice Column" signed "Aunt Abby" with fictional letters he wrote himself. Meanwhile, Miss Clegg maintains her daily routine over the back fence, sharing elaborate, opinionated monologues with her laconic neighbor, Mrs. Lathrop, who can barely get a word in edgewise. Through Miss Clegg’s sharp commentary, the reader hears about the town's endless micro-dramas, including Mrs. Macy’s catastrophic convention trip, local marriage squabbles, and young Dr. Brown’s explosive attempts to eradicate houseflies.

Inside Miss Clegg’s orderly home, Elijah proves a constant test of patience. He kicks his bedsheets apart every night, forgets his manners, and causes accidental domestic disasters—including a mishap where he glues a bedsheet to his own back with mustard plasters and mucilage, requiring medical intervention. Miss Clegg manages each crisis with stern pragmatism, using blunt honesty to keep Elijah's dramatic temper in check.

As the agreed three-month trial draws to a close around the Fourth of July, the town celebrates Independence Day with fireworks and festivities. With his newspaper experiment winding down and the trial period expiring, Elijah packages his belongings and moves out to lodge elsewhere. Miss Clegg promptly reclaims her spotless house, restored to her cherished peace and independence, satisfied that she has done her duty and proven once again that living without a man in the house is the only sensible way to live.

How It Unfolds

The agreement is made Miss Clegg decides to board Elijah Doxey and host his printing press for three months. She hopes the new paper will avenge local pride after a rival town's gazette insulted her village.

The press arrives and offends Elijah rolls into town on a freight train and immediately launches the newspaper. His satirical nicknames and bizarre political endorsements outrage prominent citizens like Judge Fitch.

Domestic routines are disrupted Miss Clegg complains continuously to her neighbor, Mrs. Lathrop, about Elijah's habits. She manages household chaos, burnt bread, and Elijah's absurd attempt to launch an advice column.

Town chaos unfolds Through relentless fence-side gossip, Miss Clegg details Mrs. Macy's absurd hotel bath misadventures at a city convention and various local domestic squabbles.

The sheet medical crisis Elijah accidentally glues a bedsheet to his back while treating an ailment with homemade plasters. Dr. Brown and Miss Clegg exhaust absurd remedies before resolving the predicament.

Independence and departure Following a chaotic Fourth of July celebration, the three-month arrangement reaches its end. Elijah exits the household, leaving Miss Clegg to gladly reclaim her quiet, spotless life.

The People

Susan Clegg Miss Clegg is a sharp-tongued, fiercely pragmatic spinster who values cleanliness, order, and her independence above all else. She desires a quiet life on her own terms, free from male interference, but agrees to board Elijah out of civic duty. By the end, her trial with a male boarder only reinforces her conviction to remain single and unbothered.

Mrs. Lathrop Mrs. Lathrop is Miss Clegg's patient, quiet next-door neighbor. She wants to stay informed on all town gossip, though her primary role is listening as Miss Clegg speaks over her constant interrupted questions. She remains a loyal sounding board from beginning to end.

Elijah Doxey Elijah is an ambitious, reckless young editor with big journalistic dreams and very little tact. He wants to turn the town upside down with his paper and advice columns, but his lack of common sense constantly lands him in domestic and social trouble until his departure.

Mrs. Macy Mrs. Macy is a dramatic town resident whose frequent misfortunes—from disastrous convention trips to carpet-sewing accidents—provide endless material for Miss Clegg's commentaries.

In Its Own Voice

"As far as my order of thinkin' goes, little comforts is lost on men, Mrs. Lathrop, they always trip over them an' smash them in the dark."

Miss Clegg gives her frank assessment of male household habits while preparing a bedroom for her new boarder.

"The only thing in the world to do with a man in a temper, when he is in a temper, is to make him so mad that he goes right off in a huff an' leaves you to peace again."

Miss Clegg explains her battle-tested domestic philosophy after Elijah loses his temper over a delayed dinner.

"I hate a bed as is kicked out at the foot an' I hate a man as makes a woman have to put the whole bed together again new every mornin'."

Miss Clegg vents her daily frustration over Elijah's restless sleeping habits disrupting her meticulous house cleaning.

What It's Really About

Beneath its buoyant domestic satire, the book explores the friction between rigid village traditions and the chaotic impulse for progress. Elijah’s newspaper represents modern media intruding upon a quiet community, turning private eccentricities into public scandals. More fundamentally, the narrative acts as an unyielding defense of female autonomy. Miss Clegg’s absolute refusal to reshape her life for male convenience challenges traditional turn-of-the-century expectations of marriage and domestic sacrifice. Her home is her sanctuary, and every comedic conflict underscores her conviction that financial and personal independence is far superior to romantic compromise.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic American humor, witty monologues, and village satire will find much to enjoy in Anne Warner's brisk prose. The book functions almost as a series of comedic theatrical routines, defined by Miss Clegg's relentless, rhythmic monologues against Mrs. Lathrop's perpetually interrupted prompts. Its charm lies in its deadpan delivery and sharp observational wit regarding human foolishness.

Prospective readers should be prepared for a narrative driven almost entirely by dialogue and voice rather than action. The prose relies heavily on early 20th-century American regional vernacular and phonetic speech patterns, which require a slight adjustment to read smoothly. Furthermore, modern audiences will notice dated period references and casual social attitudes typical of its 1907 publication date. For those who enjoy dry, character-driven period comedy, Miss Clegg's uncompromising common sense and sharp tongue remain delightfully entertaining.