A Life's Secret: A Novel

· Graphic Arts Books
Ebook
252
Pages
Tools
Eligible

About this ebook

A Life’s Secret: A Novel (1862) is a novel by Mrs. Henry Wood. Written towards the beginning of her career as a leading English novelist of the Victorian era, A Life’s Secret: A Novel is a sweeping exploration of class, society, and the dangers of keeping secrets. Blending several literary genres, including mystery and romance, Wood’s novel is a masterful and underappreciated work of fiction that remains essential nearly two centuries after it was published Orphaned at a young age, Austin Clay has found success working for his uncle, a builder. When his uncle dies unexpectedly, the young man moves to London, where he hopes to make a name for himself despite his limited upbringing. There, he meets the young Florence, a twelve-year-old girl whose uncle Clay rescues from a near-deadly accident. As the years go by, Austin and Florence develop a budding romance, but are unable to marry without the approval of her uncle, Mr. Hunter. Meanwhile, Hunter is forced to defend himself from the blackmail of Miss Gwinn, who threatens to reveal his darkest secret and to derail his successful business. The story unfolds as a moving portrait of the burgeoning labor movement, the complexities of class in Victorian England, and the threat posed to religious values by an expanding industrial world. A Life’s Secret: A Novel is a sweeping tale of two men tied by fate whose divergent backgrounds clash while bringing them together in the end. Hopeful in the face of poverty and hardship, Wood relies on her traditional ideals to critique and examine life in nineteenth century England, crafting compelling characters and complex plots to do so. While not her most popular work, A Life’s Secret: A Novel is a work of its time that remains relevant in our own. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Mrs. Henry Wood’s A Life’s Secret: A Novel is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
A Life’s Secret: A Novel (1862) is a novel by Mrs. Henry Wood. Written towards the beginning of her career as a leading English novelist of the Victorian era, A Life’s Secret: A Novel is a sweeping exploration of class, society, and the dangers of keeping secrets. Blending several literary genres...

Discover more

About the author

Mrs. Henry Wood (1814-1887) was an English novelist. Born in Worcester, she married Henry Wood—a banker and merchant—in 1836, moving with him to the South of France. After twenty years abroad, they returned with their children to England, where Wood supported the family with her writing. Throughout her career, she published over thirty novels, including East Lynne(1861) and The Channings(1862). In 1867, she purchased Argosy,an English magazine she would edit and publish for the next twenty years. Wood maintained a dedicated readership worldwide, especially in Australia, and counted among her many fans the legendary Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

Mrs. Henry Wood (1814-1887) was an English novelist. Born in Worcester, she married Henry Wood—a banker and merchant—in 1836, moving with him to the South of France. After twenty years abroad, they returned with their children to England, where Wood supported the family with her writing. Througho...

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.