Greatheart

"Greatheart" by Ethel M. Dell is a story placed high in the Alps where the protective maid Biddy Maloney cares deeply for her mistress, Isabel, and Isabel's gentle brother, Scott Studley, strives to brighten her day. The narrative gently exposes underlying themes of love, desire, and the weight of what society expects, revealed through the interactions and relationships of the characters. It opens with a peaceful Alpine scene, hinting at the complex relationships between Isabel, Biddy, and the seemingly superficial Lady Grace de Vigne; soon, the story reveals Isabel's inner conflict tied to someone named Basil, which hints at struggles in her home life, and the authoritative presence of her brother, Sir Eustace, further hints at a deeper conflict about to unfold amidst their winter celebrations.