The Dual Alliance

Barbara Garratry, nicknamed Bob, rises from poverty and cares for an invalid father while pursuing a writing career, moving from newspaper work to shop labor and magazine stories. Her ambition and cheerful resilience yield modest success, and her life becomes involved with two men through outdoor excursions and nightly telephone calls, one a practical companion and the other a distant romantic presence whose daily call marks a vital hour. The narrative alternates scenes of domestic responsibility, creative striving, social interaction, and quiet moments in nature, examining independence, ambition, and the competing demands of affection and professional life.