Fated to Be Free: A Novel

"Fated to Be Free: A Novel" by Jean Ingelow is a 19th-century fictional tale that examines family ties, bereavement, and complicated human interactions via Madam Melcombe, an old woman. Her offspring navigate their heritage and relationships within estrangement and sadness which makes the story compelling. The novel commences with a rich description of a crumbling manor, where Madam Melcombe lives, and the unkempt garden that mirrors her experiences. As she takes care of the lily garden that is filled with her lost loved ones, she reflects on her estranged sons. The story also follows her great-grandson, Peter, whose curiosity and youthful innocence accidentally reveal relational, familial, and hidden dynamics. Overall, the story suggests potential for subsequent themes of forgiveness and mending to arise.