The World's Greatest Books — Volume 05 — Fiction

On a gray October afternoon in the 1860s Isle of Wight, Alma Lee—bright, stubborn daughter of a coachman—struggles up a steep hill, juggling parcels and a pride that refuses a modest lift. When a waggoner offers her a ride and demands a kiss in return, she spurns him, only to be rescued by Cyril Maitland, the graceful son of the local rector and her childhood playmate. Their brief reunion sparks an uneasy tension, hinting at a secret love and a promise that will soon be tested by duty and desire.

The novel unfolds amid the close‑knit village life of Malbourne, where religious expectations, personal ambition, and the weight of reputation clash with youthful longing. Cyril, poised for a promising clerical career, wrestles with his own aspirations and a lingering sense of responsibility toward Alma and his fiancée, Marion. As whispers of scandal begin to stir, the story balances tender romance with moral dilemmas, inviting listeners to contemplate how pride and ambition can shape—or shatter—lives.