Author Description
Product Description This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. About the Author Herbert Foltinek, Professor of English, University of Vienna. Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor of English, Appalachian State University.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
The narrative centers on the social and personal consequences of a clandestine marriage between a young woman and a soldier, which initiates a cascade of familial discord. The protagonist, Lady Juliana, defies her father to marry for love, only to find herself ill-equipped for the realities of domestic life in the Scottish Highlands. She faces opposition from her husband's traditional family and the harsh economic constraints of her new environment. The narrative employs a third-person perspective to observe the clash between aristocratic vanity and the practical demands of nineteenth-century social structures.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Satirical portrayal of high-society manners and affectations
- Contrast between English urban luxury and Scottish rural austerity
- Exploration of the social expectations placed upon women in marriage
- Use of regional dialect to emphasize cultural differences
- Focus on the tension between romantic idealism and pragmatic reality
- Character-driven development of the protagonist's maturation
- Commentary on the importance of education and moral upbringing
- Integration of comedic elements within a domestic drama framework
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the author's sharp wit and her ability to balance social satire with genuine moral instruction. Readers frequently highlight the vivid characterizations, particularly the contrast between the flighty Lady Juliana and her more grounded counterparts. Critics often note the novel's significance in the development of the Scottish novel and its influence on later domestic fiction. The pacing is generally described as deliberate, allowing for a thorough examination of the social mores of the era. Many readers appreciate the balance between the humorous observations of character flaws and the serious implications of the protagonist's choices.
Page Count:
494
Publication Date:
1971-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192553496
ISBN-13:
9780192553492
Historical Fiction
Satire
Married People
Domestic fiction
London England
Young women
Sisters fiction
Scotland
Scots
19th Century
Classic Literature