<p>In 'The Alternative,' George Barr McCutcheon crafts a sweet yet piercingly realistic Edwardian romance that cleverly subverts the era's social conventions. The narrative chronicles the turmoil of upper-class men who, contrary to popular belief, face pressures akin to their female counterparts?marriage as a means for financial stability. McCutcheon weaves this intricate dance of societal expectations with a stylistic finesse that both honors an...