The Elect Lady

"The Elect Lady" by George MacDonald is a story set in the late 1800s that starts with the meeting of Miss Fordyce, who is a landlord's daughter, and Andrew, a tenant's son, highlighting differences in their social class. Their contrasting views on poetry and life are brought to light, as Miss Fordyce shows a superior attitude while speaking about Andrew's poems, and Andrew displays a humble feeling about his creative work. This initial exchange is soon disrupted by a train accident, which introduces George Crawford, who is someone of high status who gets injured and becomes connected with their lives. The beginning of the novel sets the scene to see how class, aspirations, and moral beliefs affect their relationships and the events that will happen later.