A Girton Girl

"A Girton Girl" by Annie Edwardes is a story set in the late 1800s, commencing with a gathering of companions in Guernsey, establishing a complicated set of connections that looks at subjects like affection, desire, and cultural standards, particularly concerning the roles of ladies during that time. The novel starts with characters engaging in lighthearted conversation over breakfast and introduces Marjorie Bartrand, a young woman in search of a mentor to help her prepare for Girton College. This then introduces Geoffrey Arbuthnot, who is thinking about the effects of tutoring Marjorie while also dealing with his own feelings for Dinah, his wife. The dialogue has a humorous undertone, punctuated by Gaston Arbuthnot’s cynical nature and Dinah’s dedication, which highlights the conflict of their connections and the tension surrounding gender roles and expectations. The story hints at deeper themes of unhappy love and the restrictions of public standards that will be uncovered.