HESTER (Vol. 1-3) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Complete EditionBy Mrs. Oliphant
Length21h 57m
About this audiobook
Published in 1883 as a three-volume novel, Hester is one of Margaret Oliphant's most searching studies of family, money, and female power within the Victorian domestic world. Centred on Hester Vernon, a spirited young woman drawn into the orbit of the Vernon banking family, the novel explores inheritance, social dependence, thwarted affection, and the moral ambiguities of commerce. Oliphant's style is lucid, ironic, and psychologically acute, replacing melodrama with finely observed tensions of drawing room, counting house, and conscience; in the context of late-Victorian realism, it offers a subtle alternative to sensation fiction. Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (1828–1897), a prolific Scottish novelist, critic, and biographer, wrote from intimate knowledge of precarious finance and familial responsibility. Widowed early and supporting children and relatives by her pen, she understood both the dignity and exhaustion of women's labor. That experience informs Hester's attention to economic vulnerability and to women who must negotiate authority without secure institutional power. Readers interested in Victorian fiction beyond the established canon will find Hester richly rewarding. It is especially recommended to those drawn to George Eliot's moral intelligence, Trollope's social networks, or novels that examine how character is tested by money, loyalty, and ambition.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.0 (974)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length21 hrs 57 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 29, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Son of His Father (Vol. 1-3) (Annotated)
26CHAPTER IV.
2Introduction
27CHAPTER V.
3Synopsis
28CHAPTER VI.
4Historical Context
29CHAPTER VII.
5Volume 1
30CHAPTER VIII.
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER I.
31CHAPTER IX.
7CHAPTER II.
32CHAPTER X.
8CHAPTER III.
33CHAPTER XI.
9CHAPTER IV.
34CHAPTER XII.
10CHAPTER V.
35CHAPTER XIII.
11CHAPTER VI.
36CHAPTER XIV.
12CHAPTER VII.
37Volume 3
13CHAPTER VIII.
38CHAPTER I.
14CHAPTER IX.
39CHAPTER II.
15CHAPTER X.
40CHAPTER III.
16CHAPTER XI.
41CHAPTER IV.
17CHAPTER XII.
42CHAPTER V.
18CHAPTER XIII.
43CHAPTER VI.
19CHAPTER XIV.
44CHAPTER VII.
20CHAPTER XV.
45CHAPTER VIII.
21CHAPTER XVI.
46CHAPTER IX.
22Volume 2
47CHAPTER X.
23CHAPTER I.
48CHAPTER XI.
24CHAPTER II.
49CHAPTER XII.
25CHAPTER III.
50CHAPTER XIII.
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