Lady William

"Lady William" by Mrs. Oliphant is a story set in the late 1800s, where a woman of noble status and her daughter navigate the complex social rules of a small town; despite her aristocratic ties, a past job makes fitting in hard. The story looks at issues of class and identity as they relate to society and explores family connections. The story begins in the lovely village of Watcham, where Lady William and Mab live in modest conditions, even though Lady William is related to noble people. Lady William's social standing, because she married into the aristocracy, makes her relationships with the local upper class difficult, as they don't like that she used to be a governess. As she lives her life in the village, things change when the important Swinford family comes back, causing Lady William to feel both nostalgic and worried, possibly leading to social conflict. Lady William struggles with her past as she tries to create a better future for her daughter Mab, whose lack of beauty goes against what society expects.