The House of Defence v. 1

"The House of Defence, Vol. 1" by E. F. Benson is a novel set in the early 1900s, that introduces us to Lord Thurso and his sister, Lady Maud Raynham, who are confronted with a typhoid outbreak near their estate in Caithness. The book examines the complex connections between family obligations, personal responsibility, and the characters' psychological states as they deal with an urgent health crisis. Lady Maud's hopeful disposition contrasts with her brother's heavier spirit, while the tranquility of their estate is opposed to the harsh reality of the epidemic's impact. With the entrance of Bertie Cochrane, an American with remarkable ideas about healing, the novel hints at future conflict and the possibility of unconventional approaches that may test Maud's established beliefs. The opening lays the groundwork for examining illness and duty, mixed with themes of acceptance and tolerance.