Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26258

Title

Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in a gritty mining town, this novel follows Elizabeth Hobart, a bright girl from a progressive family who attends an exclusive boarding school. When she refuses to take an exam under suspicious supervision, she sparks a reform movement among her peers. The story blends coming-of-age drama with a tense labor strike, highlighting themes of integrity, class struggle, and the courage to stand up against injustice.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the soot-stained mining town of Bitumen, *Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall* by Jean K. Baird chronicles the life of Elizabeth Hobart, the daughter of a mining engineer and a cultured governess, Miss Hale. Despite her humble surroundings, Elizabeth receives a rigorous education and is admitted to the prestigious Exeter Hall. Upon arrival, she quickly adapts to school life but soon faces a moral crisis. During a mathematics examination, Elizabeth refuses to participate, protesting that the instructors are acting as spies to catch cheaters rather than facilitating fair testing. Her defiance leads to her being reported to the headmistress, Dr. Morgan, leaving her to wait in uncertainty while her peers debate her actions. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Elizabeth and her friend Nora O'Day are drawn into a dangerous labor strike. Nora, the daughter of local saloon owner Dennis O'Day, brings Elizabeth to the strike site to deliver a message to her father. The town is tense, with miners threatening violence against the mine superintendent. Initially hostile toward the miners and Elizabeth's family, Dennis O'Day is swayed by Nora's emotional appeal and the imminent threat of mob violence. Recognizing the danger, he uses his influence to calm the crowd, preventing an attack on the mines and averting bloodshed. The novel concludes with the resolution of the strike and a reaffirmation of the characters' moral choices. Through this experience, Elizabeth learns the complexities of social dynamics, the power of standing up for one's principles, and the importance of education and friendship. The story emphasizes that true integrity involves not only academic honesty but also the courage to intervene in societal conflicts, ultimately highlighting the transformative power of moral conviction in the face of adversity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg26258.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Boarding schools