A Life For A Life

A Life For A Life is a novel written by Dinah Maria Craik. The story is set in England in the mid-19th century and follows the life of a young woman named Hester Dethridge. Hester is a servant in the household of a wealthy family, and she is deeply in love with their son, Stephen. However, their love is forbidden, and when Hester becomes pregnant, Stephen abandons her.Heartbroken and alone, Hester gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Lucy. She raises Lucy on her own, working hard to provide for her. However, tragedy strikes when Lucy is killed in a freak accident. Hester is consumed by grief and despair, and she becomes obsessed with seeking revenge on the person she believes is responsible for Lucy's death.The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the consequences of seeking revenge. It also delves into the social and economic realities of life for women in Victorian England. Craik's writing is characterized by its sensitivity and emotional depth, and she creates a vivid and compelling portrait of Hester's life and struggles. A Life For A Life is a powerful and moving novel that offers a poignant reflection on the human experience.I am not, the least in the world! which I would fain have explained, only mere friends can never understand the ins and outs of a family. If I offered to assist her in the house, how Penelope would stare! Or even in her schools and parish--but that I cannot do. Teaching is to me perfectly intolerable. The moment I have to face two dozen pairs of round eyes, every particle of sense takes flight, and I become the veriest of cowards, ready to sink through the floor. The same, too, in district visiting. What business have I, because I happen to be the clergyman's daughter, to go lifting the latch, and poking about poor people's houses, obliging them to drop me curtseys, and receive civilly my tracts and advice--which they neither read nor follow, and might be none the better for it if they did.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.