Those Barren Leaves

"Money brings no satisfaction if one has to work for it; for if one works for it one has no time to spend it."

-Aldous Huxley, Those Barren Leaves (1925)

Those Barren Leaves (1925) is a satirical novel by Aldous Huxley, the title of which comes from William Wordworth's poem The Tables Turned (1798): "Enough of Science and of Art; Close up those barren leaves; Come forth, and bring with you a heart; That watches and receives." The plot centers on protagonist Mrs. Aldwinkle, who invites guests to a Renaissance-like soiree, only to have her desire for the perfect event dashed. Reminiscent of Huxley's Crome Yellow (1921, also available from Cosimo Classics), the author's skewering of the superficial and pretentious is witty and engaging no matter the time period.