Helbeck of Bannisdale — Volume I

"Helbeck of Bannisdale – Volume I" by Mrs. Humphry Ward is a story set in the somber lands of Bannisdale, where Mr. Alan Helbeck lives a lonely life filled with family history and old connections. The story explores the hard choices between what people expect, what you believe, and what you want, especially when his sister, Mrs. Fountain, and her daughter, Laura, come to visit. The book starts with Helbeck walking through the sad but pretty marshlands of the Flent valley, thinking deeply as he waits for his sister to return, and is worried by the beliefs Laura has, who is from a new generation that may not feel the same way he does about responsibility. The reuniting promises both hope and conflict as they struggle with their different ideas, especially about religion and what is fair. Laura's coming could bring them together, but it also might cause problems as she tries to understand herself with regards to her step-uncle, who is very strict about his religion.