The High Heart

"The High Heart" by Basil King is a fascinating story about a young Canadian woman named Alexandra Adare, who finds herself caught in the web of American high society while working as a nursery governess. Her world gets complicated when she develops feelings for Hugh Brokenshire, a wealthy man who wants to marry her, despite his own father's disapproval. The story kicks off with Alexandra meeting the Rossiters, giving us a peek into the tricky world of class and expectations she's now navigating. As Alexandra gets to know the Brokenshire family, especially the stern J. Howard Brokenshire, the novel explores her inner thoughts on love, duty, and the tough choices she faces between what she wants and what society expects of her, setting the stage for dramatic conflict.