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Harriet Ogilvy is a young woman with a small fortune and a mental disability, making her the ideal target for the handsome and scheming Lewis Oman. After winning Harriet's love, Lewis, with the help of his brother and mistress, sets in motion a plan of unspeakable cruelty and evil to get his hands on her money. With consummate artistry, Elizabeth Jenkins transforms the bare facts of this case from the annals of Victorian England's Old Bailey into an absolutely spine-chilling exploration of the depths of human depravity. Based on the real-life 1877 case of Harriet Staunton, Harriet (1934) was a bestseller and a major critical success, beating Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust to win the Prix Femina. This edition features a new afterword by Dr. Catherine Pope. "Like a cold hand clutching at the heart." - Observer "It is superb. Every word grips." - Manchester Evening News "So exciting that I could hardly read it." - James Agate, Daily Express "Everything she writes spells for me an enchantment that makes sober criticism next to impossible." Gerald Bullett, Time and Tide
A vulnerable heiress becomes the target of a calculated conspiracy when a predatory suitor orchestrates a scheme to seize her inheritance. Harriet Ogilvy, a woman with a cognitive disability, finds herself ensnared by the charming Lewis Oman, who manipulates her affections to gain control of her fortune. With the assistance of his brother and mistress, Lewis initiates a systematic campaign of neglect and cruelty designed to eliminate Harriet. The narrative unfolds with a clinical focus on the psychological manipulation and the cold, methodical progression of the antagonists' plot against their victim.
Readers and critics frequently note the clinical precision with which Jenkins dissects the mechanics of the crime. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to maintain suspense while grounding the narrative in the grim, documented facts of the Victorian legal system. Many highlight the stark contrast between the protagonist's innocence and the calculated depravity of the antagonists. The work is widely recognized for its psychological depth and its refusal to rely on sensationalism, opting instead for a chillingly realistic portrayal of human greed. Observers often comment on the book's enduring impact, noting that the tension remains effective decades after its initial publication.
Page Count:
191
Publication Date:
1980-06-26
Publisher:
Penguin Books
ISBN-10:
0140055827
ISBN-13:
9780140055825
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