Books by "William Babington Maxwell"
12 books found
Lives of Victorian Literary Figures, Part V, Volume 1
by Ralph Pite, William Baker, Judith L Fisher, Andrew Gasson, Andrew Maunder
2024 · Taylor & Francis
Considers the reputations and biographical portrayal of three innovative and controversial writers: Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Wilkie Collins and William Thackeray. These anthologies of contemporary biographical material shed light on the processes at work in the establishment of a public image and a critical reputation.
William Dale and Mavis are both in service with Lord Barradine. Dale wants to move up in the world, and, with Barradine's influence is appointed postmaster. When loses his temper at a soldier, William puts his job in danger. Mavis goes back to Barradine for help; the cost of help will be giving in to Barradine. Dale's job is again secure, but when he discovers Mavis's infidelity, he kills Barradine and gets away with it. The murder haunts him. Years later, William and Mavis take young Norah in, William discovers he is drawn to her. To his horror, William realizes he is no better than Barradine. Seeking forgiveness, he sacrifices his life saving some little girls from a huge fire.
James Darrell is known to be "blunt and abrupt". He has been living in India for many years but is now returning to England. Soon after arrival, he presents his nephew, "Bunny" Darrell, with a very special ring. Unknown to Uncle Darrell or anyone else, whoever possesses the ring is incapable of telling a lie, however small. Ever-polite Bunny soon is creating difficulties everywhere he goes. As the Darrells and their friends slowly uncover the cause of the truth, they learn that congenial society is only possible thanks to a lot of social conventions that don't adhere strictly to the truth
Rev. John Morton, who is determined to follow as closely as possible the teachings of Jesus, inherits a considerable fortune when his uncle dies. Shortly thereafter he succumbs to the wiles of Mary Carlson and marries her. To Mary's dismay, John uses his money for charitable work. When John learns that not only has Mary been unfaithful to him but she was also his uncle's mistress and became Mrs. Morton in order to share the inheritance she believed to be rightfully hers, he sends her away with his secretary. Years later, John regrets his harshness; and he is reunited with Mary when she appears at a home for fallen women, which he is dedicating.
Young Clare Gilmour, the second daughter of an upper middle class London family, is freshly "out" but can't find a place for herself. She meets Roderick Vaughan who sees her naive vulnerability and convinces her to run away with him. Vaughan knows that the family horror of public scandal will lead to a wedding, and so it does, despite the fact that he is vulgar and ill-bred. After the wedding, she discovers she is married to a bully and can't escape him. She meets Basil Everett and finds a person who wants to love her as she is. Ultimately, she is bound by England's divorce laws, unless she and Basil can find a way to escape them.
For twenty-odd years, [Margaret Dacre] had led a dutiful, shawl-carrying, emotionally suppressed life. Across the street of the quiet English village she had watched with fascinated interest the progress of the town scandal, the rapid disintegration of Andrew Lane, drunkard, reprobate, Don Juan, and the woman who was not his wife. When the woman died, Margaret moved in and adopted the unwilling Andrw as her mission. Their strange and passionate courtship, their discouragement and defeat and the final miracle that Margaret wrought through the power of her love, make one of the most brilliant novels in Mr. Maxwell's long career. -- Jacket flap.