Self-control: A Novel

by Mary Brunton

"Self-control: A Novel" by Mary Brunton is a novel published in 1811. The devout Laura Montreville faces relentless pursuit from the rake Colonel Hargrave, refusing his proposal despite his wealth and title. When circumstances force her to support her ailing father in London, Hargrave's obsession intensifies dangerously. His increasingly desperate measures culminate in a shocking kidnapping to the American wilderness. This morally-driven tale explores the power of religious principle and self-command, while challenging the romantic notion that reformed rakes make ideal husbands.