Mistress Anne

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23246

Title

Mistress Anne

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in a quiet riverside community, Mistress Anne explores themes of love, duty, and self-discovery. As a young schoolteacher, she navigates relationships with a charming but reckless suitor, a devoted friend, and a devoted mother, ultimately finding her own path in a world of tradition and change.

Summary up to 500 words

Temple Bailey's *Mistress Anne* is a charming romantic novel set in a tranquil riverside community, exploring the tension between social duty and personal desire. The story centers on Anne Warfield, a spirited young schoolteacher who lives with the Bower family. Her life is enriched by her interactions with the 'Old Gentlemen,' a group of sophisticated men who visit for sport, her loyal dog Diogenes, and her close friendship with Peggy. Anne often feels isolated by her role as a caretaker, yearning for the 'nectar and ambrosia of life' and the companionship of young people rather than the simple, rustic existence of the Old Gentlemen. The narrative introduces two significant figures in Anne's life: Richard Brooks, a sophisticated doctor who arrives in town, and Geoffrey Fox, Anne's childhood friend who harbors deep, perhaps misguided, feelings for her. Anne views Geoffrey as a brother, rejecting his advances due to a lack of romantic love and her commitment to her family, particularly her aging mother who relies on her son's care. Meanwhile, Anne's relationship with Richard develops, though she feels bound by duty. The plot thickens when Geoffrey, in a moment of dramatic desperation, breaks his boat's motor and drifts down the river to propose to Anne, claiming he can make her happy. Anne rejects his advances, citing her lack of love for him. Geoffrey, feeling abandoned, reveals that he broke the motor intentionally to force a proposal, stating he would rather die than let the world speak ill of him or lose her. He believes Anne has inspired him and that without her, his future is dead. Anne, shaken by his intensity, clarifies that she does not love him and considers him a brother. As the story progresses, Anne weighs her options, considering whether to stay in her current life of service or leave to pursue a different destiny. The novel culminates in Anne's realization of her own worth and her ability to choose her own future. Through gentle humor and heartfelt emotion, Bailey presents a story of a woman finding her voice and her heart in a world that often dictates her path, balancing her love for her family with her own happiness.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction