Town Versus Country

"Town Versus Country" by Mary Russell Mitford is a novel that illustrates the clash between simple country living and the bustling city scene. William and Susan Howe, who are siblings, are at the heart of the story, and their lives take different paths when William ventures off to London. When William comes home after being gone for three years, Susan is worried about how the city has changed him. She dreads that he might have turned into a city boy, all dressed up in fancy clothes that her father hates. The story uses conversations and detailed descriptions of the characters to show William's struggle as he tries to balance his old life with the fancy city lifestyle. All the while, Susan is hoping to bring him and their dad back together. The book beautifully captures the themes of who you are, where you belong, and the strong ties of family as they face these two very different worlds of town and country.