The discarded daughter; or, The children of the isle

** "The Discarded Daughter; or, The Children of the Isle" by Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth is a 19th-century novel that pulls readers into the life of Alice Chester, a young heiress struggling against her father’s controlling grip on her future. Thrust into the role of heiress after her brothers' deaths, Alice becomes a pawn in her father's ambitious schemes, especially concerning marriage. Her heart belongs to a humble minister, Milton Sinclair, but her father, Colonel Chester, wants her to marry the prestigious General Garnet. Set in the imposing estate of Mount Calm, the story ignites with Alice's fierce battle to balance her own desires with the crushing expectations of her family and society, creating an atmosphere thick with emotional tension and setting the stage for a dramatic exploration of freedom versus obligation. **