"A Modern Hercules," the Tale of a Sculptress

"A Modern Hercules," the Tale of a Sculptress by Melvin G. Winstock is a late 19th-century story set in New York City about Ouida Angelo, a brave sculptress, and her tangled connections with others, such as the fervent preacher Horatio Nugent and her model, Paul Strogoff. The story is about right and wrong, expressing yourself through art, and making up for mistakes, while also showing the pull between what society wants and what people really desire. The novel starts with the buzz and clash in New York because of both Ouida's risky art and a sermon by Horatio Nugent, who says her art is bad. Some members of the congregation try to seem holy, even though they have their own issues. Then, the characters are presented—Ouida, feeling both motivated and judged, and Horatio, fighting his attraction to her while calling her art wrong. Also, there is Ivan Strogoff, a Russian nobleman, and his son Paul, dealing with their own difficulties, which lead Paul to model for Ouida. The writing suggests that the novel further examines ambition, love, and questions of morality, offering deep thought about the society of that time.