First published in 1831, this witty and insightful novel by the Scottish author Susan Edmonstone Ferrier explores the role of social class and gender in nineteenth-century Britain. Through the stories of its various characters, from the well-to-do Lady Julia to the humble servant girl Peggy, the novel offers a vivid and engaging portrait of a society in flux, as old hierarchies give way to new forms of social mobility and individual freedom.

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