Inevitably, readers of The Houseguest wll be stimulated to discuss how people should be expected to behave when they spend the weekend in one's home and also how people feel they ought to behave as visitors. Such considerations can easily lead into discussions of the decay of American manners, as well as to confusions over the correct course of behavior.

Readers may also be prompted to comment on the length of Chuck Burgoyne's visit to the Graveses's house overlooking the beach. At the opening of the novel, Chuck's stay has already reached a week, a period long enough to establish his competence as a cook and to make the Graves family somewhat dependent on his helpfulness. This is an unusual feature of the novel, since most contemporary American social life does not include such lengthy visits, unlike the country house world of Edwardian England depicted in...