Wrecked in Port: A Novel

"Wrecked in Port: A Novel" by Edmund Yates is a story from the 1800s about social status, wanting more in life, and the hard times people face, as seen through interesting characters. It starts with the death of Reverend James Ashurst and shows how tough things are for his family, especially his strong-willed daughter, Marian, who becomes the main character. The story begins in a town that's sad about the Reverend's death and follows schoolboys talking about what might happen now that their headmaster is sick and possibly dying. The opening sets a gloomy mood around the Ashurst family, showing Marian thinking about her dad's sickness and how broke they are, which leads to his death. When the story focuses on Marian, we see how smart and ambitious she is, and how she knows they're in a bad spot. She deals with her loss, her family's money problems, and the awkwardness of their social position among the richer people in Helmingham, which sets the scene for what she'll do and who she'll team up with later on.