The Days of My Life: An Autobiography

"The Days of My Life: An Autobiography" by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant is a mid-19th century story of personal discovery, touching on identity, family, and society. The plot begins with Hester Southcote, a young woman secure in her place in the world, as she walks through the peaceful Cambridgeshire countryside. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a mysterious stranger and a shy young boy, Edgar, who claims kinship. Hester, feeling both offended and intrigued, senses a disturbance in her family's usual order. The reader is left at her tension-filled home, where Hester must face questions about her heritage and what it means to belong, while dealing with the challenges of family expectations and social norms.