The Soul of Susan Yellam

"The Soul of Susan Yellam" by Horace Annesley Vachell is a novel that shows a close-up view of life in the village of Nether-Applewhite. We mainly see Susan Yellam, a strong mother, and her son, Alfred, as they deal with everyday events, their relationships, and what the town expects of them. The story begins with feelings of love, custom, and how life is changing. Susan watches over her family and notices a new parlourmaid and then thinks about Alfred finding a wife, which begins a series of thoughts about what is normal in their society, how the village works, and if there’s a chance for love, as Alfred starts liking Fancy. The story shows how the characters and their places in society affect the drama as they handle old values being challenged by change.