Bird of Paradise (1914) is a novel by Ada Leverson. Having established herself as a journalist and short story writer, Leverson published her debut novel in 1907 to moderate acclaim. Entertaining and effortlessly witty, Leverson's prose paints a stunning portrait of the Edwardian era, a time when hope and relative peace proved prosperous for many. Often compared to her close friend Oscar Wilde, Leverson, a pioneering Jewish woman, remains a unique and refreshing voice in English literature. Madeline and Bertha share an uncommonly devoted friendship, verging on sisterhood in the best and worst of times. Satisfactorily married to the loyal-if a little boring-Percy Kellynch, Bertha often serves as Madeline's matchmaker and confidante. In love with Rupert Denison, an affectionate, aloof young man, Madeline wants nothing more than to be swept off her feet. Much to her dismay, however, Rupert takes romance slow, proving at times a difficult man to pin down. Disappointed by a last-minute cancellation, Madeline laments her lovelorn woes to Bertha, who comes up with a plan. With the help of a devoted ex-lover, she invites Rupert and Madeline to dinner and a show, unwittingly setting in motion a story of jealousy, hilarity, and forbidden attraction. Bird of Paradise is a humorous tale of romance and desire from Ada Leverson, an underappreciated novelist of the Edwardian era. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ada Leverson's Bird of Paradise is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
Ada Leverson (1862-1933) was a British novelist. Born into a middle-class Jewish family, Leverson was raised alongside eight siblings by Samuel Henry Beddington, a wool merchant, and his wife Zillah. At 19, she married Ernest Leverson, with whom she would raise a daughter, Violet. In the 1890s, she embarked on a career as a professional writer, submitting stories and articles to Punch, The Yellow Book, and The Saturday Review. Through her work as a theater critic, she gained a reputation for her abundant wit and satirical tone, parodying friends and enemies alike in some of England’s most popular magazines and newspapers. She was a devoted friend of Oscar Wilde, who supported her literary pursuits and shared her humorous outlook on life. When Wilde was put on trial for his homosexuality, Leverson offered him a place to stay and continued corresponding with the Irish author until the end of his life. She wrote several novels throughout her life, including The Twelfth Hour (1907) and Little Ottleys (1908-1916), a trilogy inspired by her troubled marriage to Ernest, who abandoned her in 1905 to move to Canada. Although far from a bestselling author in her time, Leverson has come to be seen as a pioneering artist whose works display a keen understanding of society’s triumphs and shortcomings.
