
Set amid the rolling fields of a genteel English estate, the novel follows the intertwined lives of the Woodburn family and the charismatic Clavering brothers. When Henry Clavering returns to Woodburn Grange, the household is abuzz with admiration for his good nature and intellect, yet a quiet storm brews as Ann Woodburn grapples with a deep affection for him that clashes with her steadfast Christian convictions. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Sir Emanuel Clavering, a learned yet unorthodox thinker, provokes whispered gossip with his unconventional views on faith and the universe, prompting earnest debates among the residents.
Against this backdrop of pastoral charm and social expectation, the story explores the delicate balance between duty, desire, and belief. The characters’ conversations—filled with earnest hopes, lingering doubts, and the gentle rhythms of country life—invite listeners into a world where love and philosophy intertwine, and where the choices made in quiet parlors may echo far beyond the estate’s hedgerows.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (265K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Charles W. Wood, 1867.
Credits
Sonya Schermann, Bob Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2022-12-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1792–1879
A prolific English writer and traveler, he wrote on everything from rural life and social history to folklore and travel, often with a strong curiosity about ordinary people and places. He was also part of a remarkable literary partnership with his wife, Mary Howitt.
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