Novel 278: Mrs. Alexander, A Choice of Evils (1894)
A poor gentlewoman makes what seems a perfect marriage with a local squire.
Here is another fine novel by Mrs Alexander, for whom see Novels 001, 063, 113, 168, and 221.
“Mrs. Alexander . . . draws the portrait of a woman with a fine if not sympathetic nature, and her graphic pen sketches with clever ease the varied characters that surround her central figure.” Morning Post, October 30, 1894
“Mrs. Alexander is a story-teller who thoroughly enjoys her work. . . . She evidently believes in the vitality of her stories, has her people clearly before her eyes, and does her work in so unflagging a manner that the reader perforce resigns himself into her hand, takes a hearty interest in her performance, and has a good time of it. . . . ‘A Choice of Evils’ is an entertaining book, because of its clever telling, and the people in it behave naturally, and grapple with the remarkable facts of their lives in a sensible manner.” Standard, November 28, 1894
A contrasting view:
“In spite of the ability of the book, we do not feel attracted by it.” Spectator, October 27, 1894
Download this fortnight’s novel:
v.1 https://archive.org/details/choiceofevilsnov01alex/