A Valiant Ignorance; vol. 2 of 3 A Novel in Three Volumes

"A Valiant Ignorance; vol. 2 of 3" by Mary Angela Dickens is a novel set in the late 1800s that explores the tangled relationships between Julian Romayne, his mother, and Marston Loring. The story digs into the idea of freedom, what society expects, and figuring out who you are as Julian tries to find his place and deals with the weight of what others think. The story begins by showing Julian's changing personality as he struggles with his feelings and wants to be independent. The novel carefully shows his interactions with his mother, who is trying to stay positive but is stressed about Julian's happiness and social life. Julian's growing relationship with Clemence, a working-class girl, brings up issues of class differences and emotional challenges as Julian tries to create his own identity that is his not his mother. The drama is increased with Loring, whose mocking attitude and cynical comments make Julian's decisions seem questionable. This sets the scene for looking at questions of right and wrong, family ties, and personal goals.