A Stiff-Necked Generation is a novel written by Lucy Bethia Walford, originally published in 1889. The book follows the lives of two families, the Hillyards and the Waltons, who are both struggling to maintain their social status and financial stability in Victorian England. The story is set in the fictional town of Harefield, where the two families have been living for generations.The Hillyards are a proud and aristocratic family who have fallen on hard times. They are struggling to maintain their estate and keep up appearances, despite their dwindling finances. The head of the family, Sir John Hillyard, is a stubborn and proud man who refuses to acknowledge the family's financial troubles. His daughter, Maud, is engaged to the wealthy and ambitious Mr. Heriot, but she is torn between her duty to her family and her love for the penniless but honorable Mr. Gresley.The Waltons, on the other hand, are a nouveau-riche family who have made their fortune through trade. They are determined to break into high society and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. The head of the family, Mr. Walton, is a shrewd businessman who is constantly scheming to improve his family's social standing. His daughter, Edith, is engaged to the handsome and charming Mr. Percy, but she soon realizes that he is not the man she thought he was.As the two families navigate their way through the complex social hierarchy of Victorian England, they are forced to confront their own prejudices and shortcomings. The novel explores themes of class, love, and ambition, and offers a vivid portrayal of life in Victorian England.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.