21 - Reveries of a Bachelor by Ik Marvel

In Reveries of a Bachelor, or A Book of the Heart, American author Donald Grant Mitchell, writing as Ik Marvel, invites readers into the reflective world of Paul, a bachelor who finds solace by his fireplace, cigar in hand, with his loyal dog at his feet. As he reminisces about his boyhood, the charm of rural life, and his adventures through travel, Paul delves deeply into the poignant memories of the young women who have touched his heart—real or imagined. Originally serialized in a magazine, this beloved novel comprises four reveries that together create a tapestry of longing and nostalgia. Once a bestseller, it even captured the admiration of poet Emily Dickinson. (Lee Smalley)