
Self-control (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A NovelBy Mary BruntonLength17h 16m
About this audiobook
Mary Brunton's Self-Control (1811) is a courtship novel of moral trial, tracing Laura Montreville's effort to preserve religious principle and personal integrity against the seductive, coercive attentions of Colonel Hargrave. Written in a heightened yet disciplined sentimental style, the novel blends psychological introspection, melodramatic adventure, and evangelical moral seriousness. It belongs to the post-Austen, anti-Jacobin and Scottish moral-fictional milieu, engaging the era's debate over sensibility, female education, and the governance of desire. Brunton, born Mary Balfour in Orkney and later the wife of the Scottish minister and scholar Alexander Brunton, wrote from within a culture steeped in Presbyterian ethics, intellectual seriousness, and concern for women's moral agency. Her fiction reflects both familiarity with popular romance conventions and unease about their indulgence of passion. Self-Control can be read as her deliberate reformation of the sentimental heroine into a figure of conscience, endurance, and active virtue. This novel is recommended to readers interested in early nineteenth-century women's writing, religious fiction, and the moral imagination of the Romantic period. Though at times extravagant in plot, it remains a compelling study of autonomy, temptation, and the social pressures placed upon female virtue.
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
GenreLiterary Classics, Christian & Inspirational
Length17 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 25, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
22CHAPTER XVIII
2Introduction
23CHAPTER XIX
3Synopsis
24CHAPTER XX
4Historical Context
25CHAPTER XXI
5CHAPTER I
26CHAPTER XXII
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6CHAPTER II
27CHAPTER XXIII
7CHAPTER III
28CHAPTER XXIV
8CHAPTER IV
29CHAPTER XXV
9CHAPTER V
30CHAPTER XXVI
10CHAPTER VI
31CHAPTER XXVII
11CHAPTER VII
32CHAPTER XXVIII
12CHAPTER VIII
33CHAPTER XXIX
13CHAPTER IX
34CHAPTER XXX
14CHAPTER X
35CHAPTER XXXI
15CHAPTER XI
36CHAPTER XXXII
16CHAPTER XII
37CHAPTER XXXIII
17CHAPTER XIII
38CHAPTER XXXIV
18CHAPTER XIV
39Footnote
19CHAPTER XV
40Analysis
20CHAPTER XVI
41Reflection
21CHAPTER XVII
42Memorable Quotes