
In a quiet country district, the scholarly Eugene Aram declares his love for the gentle Madeline, and the two begin arranging a marriage that promises to bind their modest lives together. Their uncle, the well‑meaning but meddlesome Mr. Lester, watches the union with a mix of affection and calculation, hoping the wedding will resolve lingering family tensions. He also nurtures a secret ambition to see his other niece, the spirited Ellinor, paired with his nephew Walter, whose recent absence has left a subtle ache in the household.
The narrative unfolds amid lively discussions of duty, fortune, and the charms of youthful exuberance. As the wedding date approaches, the household buzzes with anticipation, each member projecting their own hopes onto the impending celebrations. The story captures the tender anxieties of first love, the pull of family expectations, and the delicate balance between personal desire and communal harmony.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (124K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1873
Best remembered for vivid historical and supernatural fiction, this prolific Victorian writer also left a surprising mark on everyday language with phrases that people still quote today. His stories mix drama, mystery, politics, and the occult in a way that helped shape popular fiction in the 19th century.
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