Alice Duer Miller's 1915 novel, 'Are Parents People?', is a charming and surprisingly sharp social comedy that feels fresher than its publication date suggests.

The Story

The plot centers on Lillian Hazlewood, a well-to-do wife and mother in New York. To her husband Harold and their two adult children, she is the dependable, slightly boring center of the household. But Lillian is quietly miserable, feeling trapped in a dull routine of domestic duties and social obligations. One day, she simply announces she's leaving for a trip to Europe—alone. She wants to see art, meet interesting people, and rediscover who she is beyond 'mother' and 'wife.' The family is thrown into chaos. Harold is baffled and offended. The children, particularly her daughter, are scandalized. The book follows the fallout of Lillian's rebellion as she pursues her own happiness, forcing her family to see her not as a fixture, but as a person with her own desires.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book so enjoyable is Miller's light but incisive touch. She doesn't paint Lillian as a tragic heroine or her family as villains. Instead, she shows the genuine confusion and hurt on all sides with real warmth and humor. You'll laugh at the family's over-the-top reactions, but you'll also feel for them. Miller was ahead of her time in exploring a woman's right to self-fulfillment, even within a comfortable life. Lillian's journey isn't about escaping a bad marriage, but about claiming an identity outside of her roles. It's a quiet, personal revolution, and it's utterly compelling to watch.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys witty, character-driven stories about family dynamics. If you like authors like Jane Austen for their social observation or modern writers who explore domestic life with humor, you'll find a kindred spirit in Alice Duer Miller. It's a short, smart novel that proves some questions—like whether our parents are fully realized people—are timeless. A delightful and insightful read that deserves to be rediscovered.