Flappers & Fiction

She was only five years old when she stood on tiptoes to kiss Mr. Jefferson, yet Elsie Leslie writes with the distinct voice of a seasoned professional. In this charming 1890 memoir, the original Little Lord Fauntleroy takes us backstage – from sharing pumpkin pie with artists to the dramatic mourning rituals of a bachelors’ club when a member dares to marry. It is a rare, texture-filled glimpse into a Victorian childhood spent not in the nursery, but among the gaslights, “war-whoops,” and velvet suits of the American stage.