Fair Margaret: A Portrait

"Fair Margaret: A Portrait" by F. Marion Crawford is a story set in the early 1900s that centers on Margaret Donne, a young woman with big dreams of singing professionally, as she deals with complicated relationships, especially the one she has with Edmund Lushington, who is a sensitive critic. The book looks closely at wanting to be successful, figuring out who you are, and the different ways people see the world - some are dreamers while others are more down-to-earth. Early in the book, we hear Margaret and Lushington talking, and it is clear they have different ideas about life and art. Lushington sees the world realistically, which is different than Margaret who is a dreamer; they debate ideas, which introduces the reader into who they are as people. Margaret comes across as bold and thoughtful, while Lushington is seen as shy and understanding; this creates an interesting relationship between them. Their conversations cover what society expects of people and what they personally believe in, which leads to the question of Margaret's time in the opera scene and how that may affect her character and relationships.