Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) was an English novelist and journalist who wrote his comic novels under the pseudonym F. Anstey.

'Mrs. Brassington-Claypott's Children's Party' is a humorous tale of a family trying to keep up with their social set in hosting a children's party. Ambitious and snobbish but somewhat restricted financially, Mrs. Brassington-Claypott agrees to her maid's recommendation of a conjurer with whom she is acquainted...and when he agrees to perform unpaid, the hostess jumps at the chance.

But the conjurer is not at all like anyone expected...and things quickly get out of control....