Only a Girl: or, A Physician for the Soul.

"Only a Girl: or, A Physician for the Soul" by Wilhelmine von Hillern is a 19th-century novel that tells the story of Ernestine Hartwich, a fragile young girl facing hardship and scorn because she is seen as less worthy due to her gender. The story happens on a bleak estate in Northern Germany where Ernestine lives a lonely and unloved childhood. Her father, a mean and sick man, makes no secret of his disappointment that she wasn't born a boy, leading to hurtful interactions. Ernestine's search for her own identity is one of the most important things in the book. The few times she finds kindness, like from a stranger at a party, make her sad life stand out even more, where she feels lonely and not pretty. The novel looks at themes such as familial neglect and societal inequality as the protagonist, set in the backdrop of a society which favors boys over girls, navigates her harsh reality and yearns for acceptance.