
In the shadowy pine thickets of the New Forest, the ancient walls of Squire Tempest’s former abbey loom over a world of mist, mud and restless youth. Roderick Vawdrey, fresh from a day of rabbit‑shooting and on his way back to Oxford, finds himself drawn to the edge of the estate where a daring fifteen‑year‑old, known as Vixen, bursts from the gate on a gray pony, her auburn hair and mischievous eyes defying the strictures of her family. Their brief, teasing exchange hints at a chemistry that could trouble the careful balance of propriety and freedom that governs the manor’s life.
As Vixen’s reckless spirit clashes with Roderick’s more measured world, the novel unfolds against the haunting beauty of autumn woods, where every rustle of leaf and distant call of a bird feels like a secret waiting to be heard. Their encounters promise a blend of spirited adventure and the subtle tensions of Victorian society, inviting listeners to follow the early steps of a relationship that may challenge both tradition and personal desire.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (345K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Daniel Fromont. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
2008-08-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1835–1915
A star of Victorian sensation fiction, this prolific English novelist is best remembered for the twisty, addictive drama of Lady Audley’s Secret. She wrote for decades, mixing mystery, social observation, and sharp storytelling that kept a huge reading public hooked.
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