The Story of Bessie Costrell

"The Story of Bessie Costrell" by Mrs. Humphry Ward is a novel that examines the lives of common villagers in the English countryside, especially regarding social class, moral choices, and the repercussions of individual actions. The tale primarily follows elderly laborer John Bolderfield and his niece, Bessie Costrell, as their lives become connected through hardship and family ties; as John contemplates changes when his sister-in-law, Eliza, passes away, Bessie’s spending habits and dreams of a better life stir up trouble within the family. The book begins by presenting John's reflections and introduces Bessie's character as someone whose financial decisions and aspirations cause discord, bringing his secret about money to light and foreshadowing conflict due to Bessie's desperation, setting the scene to explore moral challenges and how their choices affect their lives and close-knit community, while also highlighting their complicated relationship.