Although part of the Palliser series of books, this is really a stand-alone novel. It concerns Lizzie Eustace, a woman who marries for money and who fights to retain a diamond necklace thought to belong to her husband's family. She's certainly not a role model of morality, but she's fun to read about. This book is full of interesting characters and clever observations about money & marriage in Victorian England.
Written in 1922, this novel is about a single woman in her twenties who decides to follow her dream of becoming a writer instead of marrying her hometown sweetheart. She moves to New York City, where she moves into a boardinghouse and meets many intersting characters. Will she find success as a writer, or will she move back to Vermont and become a housewife? Read it and find out.
Good coming-of-age novel. Although the beginning is a bit slow, it picks up the pace in chapter 20. Told as an autobiography, this novel is more about the characters than about the plot. Although I like some of Dickens' other books better, this book is still worth reading.
A single woman from a wealthy family uses her inheritance to buy a house in a working-class neighborhood in the city. She wants to get to know "people like that" better - their struggles, working conditions, health care, etc.- to see how she can offer some help. At first her friends are appalled, but she slowly makes them develop some empathy for their fellow man. The novel can get a little "preachy" at times, but the good plot and interesting characters make up for that.
Sentimental novel written by a frequent contributer to Charles Dickens' magazines. The story centers on the poor, the elderly, and the abandoned children of Victorian London. If you like Dickens' writings about this topic, you'll like this novel. Just a warning: keep a box of kleenex nearby when you read this.
Amusing, charming, and romantic. Good novel about a young male schoolteacher who sets out on a bicycling vacation in the country. What he thinks will be a quiet time of rest and solitude turns into a series of adventures, where he meets a variety of charming young women and their families. The plot includes two marriage proposals and an adventure with a trained pet bear. Perfect for someone looking for some good, light reading.
An amusing short story by Anthony Trollope about a woman traveling alone in Egypt. Although she has no male companion to protect her, it's really the males of the families she latches onto in her travels that are the ones who need protecting.
Melodramatic play about a jealous woman ("green eyes") and a misunderstanding that threatens to end her marriage. It's a quick read, but nothing special.
Good cautionary tale about the need for ethics in science. A shipwrecked man, Prendick, comes to an isolated island inhabited by scientific researcher Dr. Moreau and his assistant. He soon solves the mystery of the secret experiments done behind locked doors. Is he to be Moreau's next test subject? This book is filled with horrifying images, and will keep you thinking long after you finish the last page.
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