Books like The curious savage by Patrick, John

Mrs. Savage receives a ten‑million‑dollar inheritance from her late husband. Her stepchildren, intent on seizing the wealth, arrange for her admission to a sanatorium, claiming she needs to be 'brought to her senses.' Undeterred, Mrs. Savage decides to establish a fund to help others realize their hopes and dreams. Inside the sanatorium she encounters a cast of social misfits—men and women who have struggled to adjust to life—and finds that she can offer them the support she needs. Through these encounters she discovers a deeper happiness in serving others and plans to devote her life to their cause. Though the doctor advises her to leave the estate, she remains steadfast. The stepchildren’s schemes fail as Mrs. Savage’s companions orchestrate a plan to rid her of them. At the story’s conclusion, a farewell party brings the sanatorium’s residents together to celebrate their fulfilled dreams, underscoring themes of kindness, affection, and the triumph of compassion over greed.

First publish date: 1951