Mrs. Arthur; vol. 1 of 3

"Mrs. Arthur; vol. 1 of 3" by Mrs. Oliphant is a 19th-century novel that tells the story of Arthur Curtis, a baronet's son, and Nancy Bates, the daughter of a tax collector, as they navigate a challenging engagement fraught with class differences and societal expectations. Set against the backdrop of the Bates' cozy, yet humble home, the narrative opens with lighthearted family banter tinged with the underlying tension of Arthur’s visit, hinting at the vast gap between his refined upbringing and their more modest lifestyle. As Arthur wrestles with his feelings amid familial and social pressures, the arrival of his friend, Lewis Durant, introduces doubt and raises questions about the couple's compatibility, highlighting potential obstacles to their unconventional romance and setting the stage for conflicts driven by love, class, and the scrutiny of society.