Hilda: A Story of Calcutta

"Hilda: A Story of Calcutta" by Sara Jeannette Duncan is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story introduces readers to Hilda Howe, an actress navigating her life and career in Calcutta, where interactions with other characters, such as Captain Laura Filbert from the Salvation Army, highlight the contrasts between different social classes and ethical beliefs. The novel explores themes of identity, artistic ambition, and the complexities of human relationships within the vibrant setting of colonial India. The opening of the novel presents Hilda Howe engaging in a conversation with Laura Filbert, who embodies a life of self-sacrifice and moral conviction. The two women share a moment in Laura's modest room, contrasting their experiences and outlooks on life. Hilda's appreciation for her chosen profession stands in stark contrast to Laura's unwavering dedication to her faith and mission work. As they converse, Hilda's charm and wit emerge, displaying her struggles with societal expectations and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Their interaction sets the tone for the novel, highlighting the nuanced interplay between aspiration, obligation, and self-identity amid the cultural backdrop of Calcutta. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sara Jeannette Duncan was a Canadian author and journalist, who also published as Mrs. Everard Cotes and Garth Grafton among other names. First trained as a teacher in a normal school, she took to poetry early in life and after a brief teaching period worked as a travel writer for Canadian newspapers and a columnist for the Toronto Globe. Afterward she wrote for the Washington Post where she was put in charge of the current literature section. Later she made a journey to India and married an Anglo-Indian civil servant thereafter dividing her time between England and India. She wrote 22 works of fiction, many with international themes and settings. Her novels met with mixed acclaim and are rarely read today. In 2016, she was named a National Historic Person on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.