Richard Carvel — Volume 02

"Richard Carvel — Volume 02" by Winston Churchill is a historical fiction that takes place in colonial Maryland, following young Richard Carvel as he deals with the complicated rules of society, his family's wishes, and matters of the heart. The beginning focuses on growing up, the different levels of society, and the tricky parts of friendship and love, with attention paid to Richard's connections with the attractive Dorothy Manners, who changes her mind a lot, and the more steady Patty Swain. Richard struggles with his feelings for Dorothy, whose attention is sought by many men, even as she continues to be out of reach, and his attempts to win her over are made more difficult by what society thinks of him and the sometimes mean jokes among friends. Patty grows into a strong young woman and becomes someone Richard trusts, but she also shows the dividing lines in their society. As Richard starts to understand love and loyalty while surrounded by political issues and secret plots, the story suggests disagreements and possibly deeper emotional truths that will come out as their lives continue.