54 great opening lines: 52

In M-, an important town in northern Italy, the widowed Marquise of O-, a lady of excellent reputation and mother of several well-bred children, had the following announcement published in the newspapers:  that she had, without knowing the cause, come to find herself in an interesting condition, that she wished the father of the child she was expecting to present himself;  and that she was resolved, out of consideration for her family, to marry him.

The Marquise of O-, Heinrich Von Kleist (Translated by Martin Greenberg)

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I started reading this story because it was recommended in a book about writing, but I continued it after the opening line because I wanted to know whether the father would turn up and how he would prove his paternity.

3 Replies to “54 great opening lines: 52”

  1. 1808. To me, it was not at all clear who the father is; there are a number of men introduced suggestively by the author. Even her own father seems a bit sus. I won’t spoil it for you. All I’ll say is that she faints at the beginning of the story and next thing she’s pregnant…

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