Whiteladies

"Whiteladies" by Mrs. Oliphant is a story set in the shadows of an old family home, following the lives of the Austin sisters, Susan and Augustine, as they grapple with a family haunted by the past. The novel looks at ideas of family history, the act of giving up something important, and different views of what people should do when tested, the sisters' paths cross and often vary as they face struggles ahead. One sister, Miss Susan, approaches life with her feet on the ground, while Miss Augustine looks to helping others, which causes friction and different perspectives. The story begins the reader in a world soon to be turned upside down, as the sisters face problems with their nephew, Herbert, and the rival Farrel-Austin family. The reader is left waiting to see if they can overcome problems of family responsibility and change when it comes.