Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family

"Eli's Children: The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family" by George Manville Fenn, is a story set in a small village where the Mallow family grapples with tradition, duty, and change. Reverend Eli Mallow's efforts to reform the church stir up conflict with the town's old customs, exemplified by the resistant church clerk, Sammy Warmoth, as whispered conversations reveal a church in disrepair while also establishing a brewing storm of discord. Eli's daughters, Julia and Cynthia, arrive, bringing renewed tension, while his difficult relationship with his sons, Frank and Cyril, hints at deeper family issues. The evolving village life serves as a vivid backdrop to explore familial and community issues.