Girls of the Forest

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25872

Title

Girls of the Forest

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this charming Victorian novel, L. T. Meade introduces a spirited group of ten sisters living freely in the New Forest under the care of their eccentric, classical-obsessed father. Their peaceful, misrule-filled existence is disrupted by the arrival of their strict, conventional aunt, who aims to transform the wild girls into proper ladies. With humor and heart, the story explores themes of freedom versus discipline, family loyalty, and the healing power of forgiveness as the sisters navigate their aunt's reforms...

Summary up to 500 words

L. T. Meade's *Girls of the Forest* opens with the ten Dale sisters enjoying a rugged, carefree existence in their dilapidated Elizabethan home, The Dales, within the New Forest. Led by the gentle Verena, the girls live by their own rules, exploring the woods and gathering wildflowers, a lifestyle their father, Mr. Dale, tolerates while he remains absorbed in his studies of Virgil. Their tranquility is shattered by the arrival of Aunt Sophia, a fashionable and rigid woman determined to impose strict etiquette and education upon the girls, whom she views as 'savages.' Aunt Sophia vows to reform them over three months, clashing immediately with the sisters' rebellion and refusal to accept her authority. The narrative contrasts the sisters' rustic freedom with Aunt Sophia's demands for cleanliness, proper dress, and structured behavior. Tensions escalate as the aunt attempts to separate the girls from their friends, particularly Nancy, the daughter of Farmer King. This separation stems from a misunderstanding regarding Nancy's lower-class background; Aunt Sophia believes her association will corrupt the Dales. However, the story reveals that Nancy and her father have been secretly supporting the girls, hosting midnight picnics and offering friendship when forbidden. A significant subplot involves Pauline, one of the sisters, who suffers a mental breakdown after being forced to cut off contact with Nancy. Haunted by the command to 'wash and be clean,' Pauline flees to the seaside. There, she finds healing in the ocean waves, realizing that the sea represents true cleansing. Upon her return, she confesses her rebellion. This act leads to a heartwarming resolution where Aunt Sophia acknowledges her own prejudice and apologizes to Farmer King. The novel concludes with the restoration of family harmony, the acceptance of Nancy as a friend, and the sisters finding a balance between their wild nature and the necessary discipline of growing up, all while maintaining their deep bond and love for one another.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Family Life