The first violin: A novel

"The First Violin" by Jessie Fothergill is a late 19th-century novel that introduces us to May Wedderburn, a young woman navigating personal hardships and a feeling of solitude within her family circle. The story establishes conflict through her relationships with the mysterious Miss Hallam and Sir Peter Le Marchant, whose interest in May threatens her developing identity. The narrative opens by highlighting May's internal battle with grief and isolation against the beautiful backdrop of her countryside home. After an invitation for tea from Miss Hallam, May enters a web of complicated relationships where societal norms clash with her own aspirations. The unwelcome attention of Sir Peter further jeopardizes her sense of self, creating an atmosphere of unease that permeates the beginning of the book, while questioning themes of independence, identity, and societal limitations.