His Second Wife

"His Second Wife" by Ernest Poole is a story focusing on Ethel Knight, who leaves home after her father's passing to live with her sister Amy Lanier in New York City. The book shows Ethel's experiences as she tries to find her place in a new, busy environment. Ethel is portrayed as a hopeful yet inexperienced young woman, eager for independence, but also aware of the differences between her simple past and her sister's more sophisticated life. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Ethel struggles with her grief, while dealing with her new surroundings, and especially her relationship with those around her. The different views of characters in the story highlight different social pressures that women deal with during that time.