Old Comrades: Restored Classics to Go Edition

· Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
171
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

In a bleak London lodging house, eighteen-year-old Dorothea Tracy begins married life with the stern, retired Colonel Tracy and quickly discovers how little warmth survives in his orderly, self-contained world. Christmas only sharpens the contrast: Dorothea longs for church, a letter from her beloved former guardian Mrs. Kirkpatrick, and some sign of affection, while her father greets her gifts with awkward indifference and even offers money in place of feeling. Yet a mysterious Christmas card reveals an old, silent bond with a former army comrade, hinting at buried wounds, loneliness, and the possibility of reconciliation beneath the Colonel's rigid exterior. As Dorothea tries to find her place, she is delayed by her anxious landlady Mrs. Stirring and then drawn into new social currents at church and beyond. A chance meeting with Mervyn Claughton opens the door to the Erskine family and especially the lively Dolly, whose bright charm and apparent popularity stir curiosity and quiet romantic tension. Meanwhile, Dolly's home life with serious Isabel and watchful Margot reveals a world of teasing affection, hidden attachments, and social scrutiny. Through these intersecting scenes, the novel explores emotional isolation, family duty, faith, and the fragile beginnings of connection. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
In a bleak London lodging house, eighteen-year-old Dorothea Tracy begins married life with the stern, retired Colonel Tracy and quickly discovers how little warmth survives in his orderly, self-contained world. Christmas only sharpens the contrast: Dorothea longs for church, a letter from her bel...

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About the author

Agnes Giberne was an English writer born in 1845 whose life unfolded at the intersection of faith, curiosity, and a deep desire to make knowledge accessible to young readers. Educated in a period when women's opportunities were still limited, she built a remarkably productive literary career that ranged from fiction and historical writing to popular science and religious instruction, becoming especially admired for the care and clarity with which she wrote for children and families. Her most enduring achievement was her ability to combine storytelling with moral seriousness and intellectual liveliness, creating books that educated as they entertained and that treated young readers as thoughtful minds rather than passive listeners. Across her work, she returned to themes of duty, perseverance, social responsibility, Christian faith, and the shaping power of character, while also showing a strong interest in science, history, and the natural world. That blend feels strikingly modern: her writing encourages curiosity, empathy, and resilience, qualities that remain valuable in a fast-changing world. Giberne's legacy lies in her talent for bringing complex ideas within reach and for writing with both warmth and conviction, making her an important figure in the tradition of Victorian children's literature. Readers who enjoy morally grounded stories, historical settings, and authors who can make learning feel inviting will find her especially rewarding today.

Agnes Giberne was an English writer born in 1845 whose life unfolded at the intersection of faith, curiosity, and a deep desire to make knowledge accessible to young readers. Educated in a period when women's opportunities were still limited, she built a remarkably productive literary career that...

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