The Captives

The Captives by Hugh Walpole is a novel set in the early 20th century in a small English village called Polchester. The story revolves around two main characters, the Reverend William Leigh and his wife, Marjorie. The couple is well-respected in the village and their marriage is considered to be a model of perfection. However, their lives are turned upside down when a young woman named Lydia comes to stay with them as a governess for their children.Lydia is beautiful, charming, and intelligent, and she quickly becomes the center of attention in the village. She is also a bit of a mystery, and her true motives for coming to Polchester are unclear. As time goes on, it becomes clear that Lydia is not who she appears to be, and she has a dark secret that could destroy the Leighs' reputation and their marriage.The novel explores themes of love, betrayal, and the destructive power of secrets. It also delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their own interests. The Captives is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.Martin walked into the street with a confused sense of triumph and defeat, that confusion that comes to all sensitive men at the moment when they are stepping, against their will, from one set of conditions into another. He had gone into that house, only half an hour ago, determined to leave Maggie for ever--for his good and hers. He came back into the street realising that he was now, perhaps for the first time, quite definitely involved in some relation with her.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.