Synopses & Reviews
Epitomizing the scandalous Victorian "sensation" novel and establishing Braddon as the doyenne of the genre, this addictively plotted tale features a flaxen-haired beauty hiding a murderous criminal secret Miss Lucy Graham is a newcomer to the parish of Audley. She may be an impoverished governess, but she is also kind, and ineffably beautiful. When Sir Michael Audley sets eyes upon her he finds himself in the grip of "the terrible fever called love." Their courtship raises many eyebrows, but Sir Audley has set his heart on the sweet-natured girl, and before long they marry. Appearances, however, can be deceptive; and Sir Michaels nephew, Robert, begins to suspect that his new aunt is not all she seems. His investigations into her murky past soon bring shocking secrets to the surface. Originally published in 1862, the massive success of this novel featuring blackmail, bigamy, and murder made Mary Elizabeth Braddon a household name. It remains a classic Victorian spine-tingler.
Review
"Mary Elizabeth Braddon knows much that ladies are not accustomed to know." —Henry James
Synopsis
All seems well and good when young Lucy Graham marries Sir Michael Audley; she has married well and Sir Michael is thoroughly devoted to his new bride. His daughter Alicia, however, sees through her new stepmother's girlish ways. Shortly after the wedding, Sir Michael's nephew, the attractive but lazy barrister Robert Audley, welcomes back to England an old friend of his, George Talboys. The pair visit the Audley Court, where George disappears in mysterious circumstances. Robert Audley is spurred into action, taking up the case of his missing friend with a newfound passion and energy. Like the best detective novels, and with some wonderful melodrama, the plot unravels at great pace until the truth is revealed about Lady Audley's secret.
About the Author
Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) published almost 90 books during her long career, including The Doctor's Wife and The Trail of the Serpent. Robert Giddings is an eminent literary critic who reviews for such publications as the Guardian, the New Statesman, and the Sunday Times.