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Cousins -- Fiction Books
Best books
H. De Vere (Henry De Vere) Stacpoole
The Blue Lagoon: A Romance
"The Blue Lagoon: A Romance" by H. De Vere Stacpoole is a coming-of-age romance novel published in 1908. Two young cousins are shipwrecked on a remote South Pacific island, where they must survive alone after their caretaker dies. Growing up in isolation, they discover the mysteries of nature, maturity, and love without guidance from civilization. As they navigate island dangers and their own transformation into adulthood, their innocent paradise becomes a place of wonder and peril, leading to an ambiguous fate.
Jane Austen
Mansfield Park
"Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen is a novel first published in 1814. Ten-year-old Fanny Price is sent from her impoverished home to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle at Mansfield Park, where she endures years of mistreatment. As she grows into adulthood, Fanny navigates complex family dynamics, romantic entanglements, and moral dilemmas. When the charming Henry Crawford pursues her, Fanny must decide between social advancement and her own principles, while those around her make choices that will test their values and reshape their lives.
Alex. McVeigh Miller
Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday
"Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday" by Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller is a romantic novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Dainty Chase, a charming and innocent girl, who faces jealousy from her cousins Olive and Ela as they all navigate their way through society, love, and rivalry, particularly concerning their wealthy relative Lovelace Ellsworth. As the plot unfolds, themes of ambition, deceit, and the complexities of young love take center stage against a backdrop of family dynamics. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Dainty, who is preparing for a summer trip to her aunt's country home where she hopes to charm Lovelace, who has just returned from Europe. Meanwhile, her cousins plot to undermine her, revealing their jealousy over her beauty and potential to attract Lovelace's attention. Dainty's sweet and trusting nature is contrasted sharply with the deviousness of Olive and Ela, setting the stage for a tale rife with tension and romantic entanglements. The opening chapters focus on establishing these characters and their differing motivations, while hinting at the emotional and dramatic conflicts that are sure to arise as they all converge at the family estate.
Lucas Malet
The History of Sir Richard Calmady: A Romance
"The History of Sir Richard Calmady: A Romance" by Lucas Malet is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set against the backdrop of a family lineage and revolves around the experiences of Sir Richard Calmady, exploring themes of love, social relations, and the legacies of family history." "The opening of the story introduces the setting of Brockhurst, a grand estate built by Denzil Calmady, and highlights the beauty of the landscape and the weight of familial legacy. The narrative hints at a family curse affecting the male descendants of Denzil Calmady, suggesting an ominous future for Sir Richard. In a close-up view, we meet Richard and Katherine Calmady amidst a post-wedding celebration, where Katherine reflects on her new life and the urgency of motherhood, setting the stage for deeper exploration of love and destiny intertwined with the family's troubled past."
William Black
A daughter of Heth
No description available.
Ann S. (Ann Sophia) Stephens
Doubly false
No description available.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
The Story Girl
"The Story Girl" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1911. It follows young cousins and their friends spending a summer on a Prince Edward Island farm, captivated by their cousin Sara Stanley—the Story Girl—whose gift for storytelling brings magic to everyday life. Through enchanting tales of family history, witches, and wonder, Sara transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures. The novel weaves together the children's experiences with Sara's mesmerizing stories, exploring friendship, imagination, and the power of narrative in rural Canadian life.
Louisa May Alcott
Rose in Bloom A Sequel to "Eight Cousins"
"Rose in Bloom" by Louisa May Alcott is a novel published in 1876. This sequel to "Eight Cousins" follows Rose Campbell as she returns from Europe and navigates nineteenth-century society. Determined to pursue philanthropy and maintain her independence, Rose must contend with family expectations about marriage and fortune. As her cousins vie for her attention and her adopted companion Phebe seeks to prove herself, Rose faces questions about love, social class, and what truly matters in choosing a life partner.
Robert Louis Stevenson
The Wrong Box
"The Wrong Box" by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne is a black comedy novel published in 1889. Two elderly brothers are the last survivors of a tontine—a financial scheme where the final survivor claims everything. When one brother appears to have died in a train crash, his nephews desperately attempt to conceal a body to protect their inheritance. Meanwhile, a corpse gets shipped in the wrong container, triggering a farcical chain of mistaken identities and panicked cover-ups as multiple characters scramble to dispose of evidence they fear will implicate them in murder.
Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge
The Heir of Redclyffe
"The Heir of Redclyffe" by Charlotte M. Yonge is a novel published in 1853. Guy Morville, heir to the Redclyffe estate, faces ruin when his hypocritical cousin Philip spreads rumors that destroy his reputation and engagement. Guy endures the injustice with Christian fortitude until his character is cleared. But during an Italian honeymoon, a fateful encounter with Philip tests Guy's nobility in unexpected ways. This High Church romance became the most popular novel of its era, inspiring readers from young women to Pre-Raphaelite artists.
E. Oe. (Edith Oenone) Somerville
The Real Charlotte
"The Real Charlotte" by E. Oe. Somerville and Martin Ross is a novel written between 1888 and 1890 and published in 1894. Set in rural County Galway, the story centers on the scheming Charlotte Mullen, her beautiful young cousin Francie Fitzpatrick, and the married Roderick Lambert. Their intertwined lives unfold across three households in a complex web of ambition, desire, and social maneuvering. Critics have called it a masterpiece with Balzacian power, featuring a title character so formidable she becomes an unforgettable force of nature.
Katherine Cecil Thurston
The Masquerader
"The Masquerader" by Katherine Cecil Thurston is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story centers around John Chilcote, a member of Parliament who grapples with the pressures of his political life and personal demons, particularly his addiction to morphia. The narrative begins in a fog-laden London, where Chilcote encounters a doppelganger named John Loder, setting off a chain of events that explores themes of identity, desperation, and the façade of social appearances. At the start of the novel, a significant fog disrupts London life, and it is on this night that Chilcote's struggle with his identity and addiction becomes pronounced. He navigates the dense fog both literally and metaphorically, illustrating his self-absorbed and tumultuous state. After an unsettling encounter with a mysterious stranger who shares his striking resemblance, Chilcote experiences a blend of fascination and distress. The conversation hints at greater themes of ambition and downfall, particularly surrounding a public figure named Lexington. As this initial scene unfolds, it becomes clear that the duality of the characters and their individual struggles will play a crucial role in the unfolding narrative. Chilcote's increasing unrest foreshadows his later desperate proposal to Loder, which will shape the course of the story.
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