Novel 253: Harriet Jane Trelawny, Sister (1879)
An unselfish young lady tends her alcoholic father, comatose mother, and three younger sisters.
Harriet Jane Trelawny (1821-1879) published only one novel, this one, just before her death in her late fifties. It’s a pity she didn’t start earlier or live longer, as this is a very good novel, in its quiet way, even if, like last week’s, it features that durable Victorian type, the self-sacrificing sister.
“It is a domestic story of a superior kind. . . . The language is pure, and this is the more satisfactory because the narrative is not stiff and awkward, but has the freedom too often secured at a sacrifice of grace, if not correctness. . . . The author . . . can reproduce the natural manner, expressions, acts, and expedients of ordinary men and women.” Athenaeum, October 25, 1879
A contrasting view:
“Sister is by no means an ill-meant effort, and shows a good deal of misdirected cleverness. The author has unfortunately tried to copy two bad models at the same time—the garrison-flirtation novel and monster-of-self-sacrifice old-maid story.” Academy, December 6, 1879
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