Tales from a Rolltop Desk: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Tales from a Rolltop Desk: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Tales from a Rolltop Desk is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Morley, Christopher (1890–1957).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Tales from a Rolltop Desk" by Christopher Morley is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The narratives are set within the realm of publishing in New York, focusing on the lives and experiences of those involved in the literary world, particularly young men aspiring to make their mark, alongside their relationships and the often humorous tribulations they face. The main character introduced in the opening story is Lester Valiant, a recent Oxford graduate navigating his entry into the publishing industry while dealing with personal ambitions and romantic interests. At the start of the collection, the dedication and acknowledgment sections provide a glimpse into Morley's admiration for the formative experiences of writers and publishers. The first story, "The Prize Package," introduces Lester Valiant as he arrives in New York, full of dreams but quickly realizing that reality does not align with his romanticized expectations of the literary field. Despite his literary pretensions, Lester finds himself working in a mundane press office, grappling with his socioeconomic status, and becoming infatuated with his colleague, Pearl Denver. This tension between aspiration and reality, along with the humorous depiction of his experiences, sets the tone for Morley's witty exploration of the struggles of young literary enthusiasts.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Tales from a Rolltop Desk
- Author credits: Morley, Christopher (1890–1957)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Authors -- Fiction
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
- New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
- Publishers and publishing -- Fiction
- Short stories, American
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Short Stories
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


