The scene is contemporary
Charleston during a few tumultuous summer days that changed the lives of the
Redcliffs and the Hessenwinkles. The Redcliffs bear an old and distinguished
name; the Hessenwinkles make up in vigor what they lack in taste and in social
position. At the three o'clock dinner, the Redcliff clan gallantly rally to
welcome Lorena Hessenwinkle into their sacrosanct midst. There are thirteen at
table, but actually there is a fourteenth, Fed Redcliff, who died before the
story begins.
Josephine Pinckney was born in
Charleston, and with the exception of a year in Italy, two summers in Mexico,
and travels abroad, she has lived there all her life. She has had two previous
books published, one poetry, Sea Drinking
Cities, and the other a novel, titled Hilton
Head.
This special edition of THREE
O'CLOCK DINNER by Josephine Pinckney has been made available to the Armed
Forces of the United States through an arrangement with the original publisher,
The Viking Press, Inc., New York.
Editions for the Armed Services,
Inc., a non-profit organization established by the Council on Books in Wartime