The Lords of High Decision

Habranthus
6 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Meredith Nicholson

1909

Doubleday, Page & Company

New York

503 average pages

Overview:

Wealthy Pittsburg family drama "in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seven."

Summary

Colonel Roger Craighill, an older widower whose wealth comes from the steel industry of Pittsburg, marries a much younger woman. His two adult children are generally supportive, but his son, Wayne, knew the woman before and understands that it is a marriage of convenience for both of them. Wayne has a reputation as a heavy drinker and a womanizer and is generally regarded as a disappointment to his father. Wayne harbors a great resentment toward his father for what he perceives as an arrogant and unfair attitude regarding his son. Wayne plots to seduce his father's new wife as a means of revenge. Along the way, he meets Jean, a lovely young woman who is an artist and a volunteer at the church. While falling in love with Jean, he decides to change his evil ways - he leaves town to get sober and get a new lease on life. After more drama and Roger Craighill's near financial ruin, father and son reconcile.

Review:

I have a special category of books that fail to live up to their titles. I put this one there. "The Lords of High Decision" is an intriguing, cool title. I really like it, which is why I bought the book. But the story is just 'good', the writing is 'fine', and I didn't find that the title made any connection with the plot or characters. It is basically a wealthy family's drama, with more going on than my concise summary. There is a touch of mystery, there is love, betrayal, vengeful resentment, fall from grace, and, of course, threat of financial ruin. But there is nothing too exciting or fantastic, and some of the relationships are somewhat unconvincing. The story gives cliché moral lessons about pride, greed, and selfishness. Maybe I'm being too harsh because I was disappointed, but I think he got the idea for this novel by reading the gossip column.

I suspect that the underlying message is that turning to God is the way to go. There is a significant subplot pertaining to a minister that takes on a religious undertone, but it's well done and not too blatant.

To the Author's credit:

I did enjoy the historical perspective of the city of Pittsburg (the correct spelling in 1909). Mr. Nicholson did a great job incorporating aspects of the city into the story - its steel industry, its people, its perception both from within itself and from other cities, its nicknames, and the general feel of the city. Also, Mr. Nicholson did a very good job of developing the central character, Wayne Craighill.

To the Author's discredit:

The story was too predictable. Some of the things that happened were too convenient. For example, the death of Jean's ex-husband - I saw that coming a mile away. To be fair, though, maybe 116 years ago some writing elements were less weatherworn.

The author's dedication is more interesting than the novel. It's a little bit of false advertising.

Best Lines:

The Lady of Difficult Occasions - the title of a chapter.

There is no eloquence like that of absence.

"I must say that your tact sometimes leaves you at fatal moments."

...to the infinite disgust of that person. (meaning 'that person' was very offended)

...a singularly inopportune moment.

"I didn't feel that God was calling me or anything of that kind. I felt that Man was calling me."

The bottle and the glass were, to say the least, an unfortunate background for reunion.

...it was too bad that there were only ten commandments, as this small number painfully limited Wayne Craighill's possible infractions.

...like the pink shadow in white roses.

One must pick up gossip when it is fresh. Nothing, he said, is so discouraging as to miss the prologue.

...the lady...whose hat and coat had already been appraised by Mrs. Blair in that sharp coup d' oeil by which one woman dissects the garb of another.

I shall look no more upon the rum bottle...not because I don't like it, but because I have thought of much more dreadful and heinous sins.

(He) knew the danger that lies in women's tears.

Her: I didn't believe you capable of harbouring such thoughts of me.

Him: I had to harbour them when they sailed so boldly into port.

Vocabulary:

guidons - small flags

captious - marked by inclination to stress faults and raise objections

dissolute - lacking restraint

indubitable - unquestionable (doesn't roll off the tongue easily, may be why it's out of fashion.)

bunco - swindle

suffered - used here - '...and suffered Fanny to take it.' - kind of made her take it

foible - a minor flaw or shortcoming in character/behavior