(1894) is the third of Ward’s five originally bestselling and best-regarded novels, with

(1896) its weaker sequel. The quick, cheap, one-volume reprint of

ended the dominance in Britain of the expensive three-decker and the major lending libraries’ consequent near-monopoly and power of censorship (Sutherland, 1990, pp. 147-8). Like the previous two novels,

and

,

is a

n, but this time about a female protagonist. Developing from aspiring Lady Bountiful in the country to socialist district nurse in London, to reformist bride of the leading aristocrat of the county, Marcella rehearses the conflicting roles of the Victorian woman and the New Woman. Linking a romance plot with a political…

1940 words

Citation: Argyle, Gisela. "Marcella". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 September 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3742, accessed 23 November 2024.]