The House of Defence v. 2

"The House of Defence" by E. F. Benson is a story about faith and doubt in the early 1900s. The book looks at deep questions about what people believe and the hard times they go through, mainly through Maud, as she argues about Christian Science and what it means for when people live or die. The story happens during social events but hints at hidden feelings and mental struggles. At first, Maud stands up for Christian Science when others make fun of it, with the help of her friend, Alice Yardly. However, it turns out Maud isn't so sure about it herself, remembering times when she saw surprising recoveries that she can't quite explain. This brings up big talks about sickness, getting better, right and wrong, and people misunderstanding each other, especially how faith and medicine deal with illness differently. The beginning sets up complicated relationships between Maud, her brother Thurso, and his wife, Catherine, as they try to deal with Thurso's drug problem and how it affects them all.