Young Lives

by Richard Le Gallienne

"Young Lives" by Richard Le Gallienne is a novel written during the late 19th century. The book delves into the lives and struggles of the Mesurier family, particularly focusing on the tensions between generations and the yearning for individuality among the children, especially Henry and Esther, as they seek to assert their identities and break free from their father's strict and traditional expectations. The opening of the novel sets the scene in a modest middle-class home, where a family conflict is brewing. On a significant evening, the eldest son Henry and his sister Esther boldly confront their parents about their dissatisfaction with home life and their yearning for freedom. With their father, James Mesurier, embodying a rigid and puritanical worldview, the children feel stifled in their pursuits, leading to a dramatic clash of wills within the front parlour. As family dynamics unfold, themes of rebellion, familial love, and the quest for artistic expression become apparent, laying the groundwork for the emotional and societal explorations that follow in their lives.