Her mother's secret

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26259

Title

Her mother's secret

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this Victorian romance, a young bride must choose between her childhood sweetheart and a wealthy suitor after her husband's mysterious death. Haunted by a family secret regarding her first marriage, Odalite Force faces a harrowing test of honor and love as she navigates social expectations and the potential ruin of her noble father.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the Maryland gentry of the 19th century, Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth's *Her Mother's Secret* explores the devastating conflict between social duty and personal desire. The narrative centers on Odalite Force, a beautiful young woman whose life is upended by the sudden death of her first husband, Angus Anglesea. Although their marriage was brief and seemingly unconsummated, a terrifying doubt plagues the family: was the ceremony valid? Odalite's mother, Elfrida, fears that if Anglesea's former wife was alive at the time of the wedding, Odalite remains legally bound to him. To protect her daughter's reputation and her father's standing, Elfrida urges Odalite to accept a proposal from Colonel Anglesea, a neighbor and friend of her father, effectively ending Odalite's romance with Leonidas Force, her childhood playmate and true love. Leonidas, now a naval officer, prepares to depart for a three-year voyage, leaving Odalite in a state of suspended animation. The story delves into the intense pressure of social honor within a rigid class society and the psychological toll of living with a secret that could destroy a family. Odalite struggles with her feelings for Leonidas and the fear of being a 'bigamous' wife, while her mother reveals a tragic secret from her own youth that explains her desperate need to secure Odalite's future. The narrative builds toward a climax where the truth of Odalite's marital status must be revealed to save her from disgrace. As Leonidas prepares to leave, he is forced to keep the family's doubts hidden from Odalite, adding to her isolation. The novel examines the complexities of honor, the cruelty of societal expectations, and the profound sacrifice required to preserve a family's name when the law and social perception threaten to ruin an innocent woman's life.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction