The story in one page
Irene Iddesleigh marries the wealthy Sir John Dunfern, despite her complete lack of affection for him. Trapped in the sprawling Dunfern Mansion and monitored by the watchful Rachel Hyde, Irene turns her sights toward Oscar Otwell. She eventually flees her marriage to pursue this new connection, only to face social ruin and eventual isolation. After a series of dramatic missteps, Irene dies a social outcast, leaving her son to solidify the family reputation by permanently severing ties with her memory. It is a story of high-flown intentions meeting very low-flown consequences.
Who's who
- Irene Iddesleigh
The protagonist who marries for security and regrets it immediately.
- Sir John Dunfern
A dignified knight of proud ancestry and Irene's betrayed husband.
- Oscar Otwell
The man with whom Irene enters into an unlawful union.
- Rachel Hyde
A household monitor who keeps Irene under strict surveillance.
What it's really about
- Social Status
- A primary driver for disastrous matrimonial decisions.
- Consequence
- The inevitable result of abandoning one's social duty.
Why it's memorable
- Irene scrubbing window panes in hopes of spotting a maid.
- A grave at the lowest corner of Seaforde graveyard.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Irene dies an outcast in Seaforde graveyard. Her son arrives shortly after to formally banish her memory from his life.
For your book club
- The prose challenges the traditional limits of English vocabulary.
- Marriage is depicted as a legal minefield of potential regret.