The New Magdalen

"The New Magdalen" by Wilkie Collins is a story set in a time of great social shifts and changing roles for women, looking at ideas such as who we are, making up for past mistakes, and how society can judge us. It follows Mercy Merrick and Grace Roseberry, two women trying to find their way in Europe during a war. The story begins on a stormy night in France during the Franco-Prussian War, where Captain Arnault and his soldiers are helping the injured. They meet Mercy, a nurse with a difficult history, and Grace, a young woman who was robbed and is looking for safety. The women's relationship grows quickly, with Grace thankful for Mercy's help. Mercy's past suggests hidden suffering that makes their bond complicated. The beginning of the book creates a worried mood, hinting at fights between different social classes and questions about identity, all leading to Mercy making a hard decision to take on Grace’s identity after a sad event.