Hesba Stretton
Hesba Stretton was the pseudonym of Sarah Smith, an evangelical English author of religious books for children. These were highly popular. By the late 19th century Jessica's First Prayer had sold a million and a half copies – ten times more than Alice in Wonderland. She concocted "Hesba Stretton" from the initials of herself and four surviving siblings, along with the name of a Shropshire village she visited, All Stretton, where her sister Anne owned a house, Caradoc Lodge.
The Christmas Child
Amidst a loving but broken family, a girl's wish for a Christmas miracle comes true.
By Hesba Stretton
Alone in London
In the heart of London, an old man's solitary existence is transformed by a waif and an urchin, forging an unlikely family amidst the city's harsh realities.
By Hesba Stretton
Little Meg's Children
In London's grimy streets, a young girl must find strength to protect her siblings and a hidden treasure after their mother's death, clinging to hope in the face of hardship.
By Hesba Stretton
Two Christmas Stories: Sam Franklin's Savings-Bank; A Miserable Christmas and a Happy New Year
During the holidays in the late 1800s, the lives of ordinary people are tested as they face challenges that reveal what truly matters when surrounded by family.
By Hesba Stretton
Half Brothers
In a foreign land, a lonely wife anticipates the return of her husband, wrestling with hidden secrets and the fear of childbirth, in this story of love, abandonment, and complex relationships.
By Hesba Stretton
The Doctor's Dilemma
** A spirited young woman flees London, seeking refuge across stormy seas, leaving behind a life of oppression in favor of an uncertain future.
By Hesba Stretton
Alone in London
In the heart of London, a chance encounter gives rise to a loving connection between an old shopkeeper and a lost child.
By Hesba Stretton
Cobwebs and Cables
A desperate banker risks everything, abandoning his family and fortune as he struggles to escape the grasp of a devastating scandal.
By Hesba Stretton
Fern's Hollow
In a world of poverty and cruelty, a young boy must rise to protect his family and navigate the harsh realities of life.
By Hesba Stretton
Jessica's First Prayer; and, Jessica's Mother
In a world of poverty and neglect, a young girl's life changes when a simple act of generosity sparks an unlikely friendship and a glimmer of hope.
By Hesba Stretton
Brought Home
In a quiet town, a family's life spirals into turmoil as addiction and societal expectations threaten to tear them apart.
By Hesba Stretton