
In a quiet English village, seventeen‑year‑old Stella Carrington finds herself trapped between tradition and the stir of change. A newly refurbished church, with bright pine seats replacing the dusty old pews, forces her to confront memories of childhood confinement and the expectations of a stern grandmother and two maiden aunts. As the familiar hymn swells, Stella’s inner rebellion awakens, and she begins to question the path laid out for her, daring to imagine a different life.
The narrative unfolds with vivid detail, capturing the rhythm of village life, the clash of old customs and fresh ideas, and the subtle tensions that ripple beneath polite conversation. Through Stella’s eyes, listeners glimpse the yearning of a young woman poised on the brink of self‑discovery, set against the backdrop of a community that both comforts and restrains. The story promises a thoughtful exploration of identity, choice, and the quiet courage required to step beyond familiar walls.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (439K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by MWS, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2016-10-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1934
A prolific early 20th-century novelist and short-story writer, she drew deeply on years spent in colonial India, turning everyday life, social tensions, and the supernatural into vivid fiction. Her books range from domestic dramas to ghost stories, with India at the heart of much of her work.
View all books
by Alice Perrin

by Mrs. Alexander

by Charles Garvice

by C. A. (Catharine Amy) Dawson Scott

by Louisa May Alcott

by Mrs. Alexander

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Nathaniel Hawthorne