Two Years Ago, Volume II.

"Two Years Ago, Volume II" by Charles Kingsley is a story that presents us with a community on the brink. As Aberalva fusses over Lord Frederick Viscount Scoutbush's return, our main character, Elsley, wrestles with his own feelings. The story introduces Tom Thurnall, a doctor viewed with both respect and suspicion, as he anticipates and plans for possible cholera. This shows the societal awareness and responsibility themes explored in the book. The humor of the narrative highlights Scoutbush’s affable nature and the positive feelings from the townspeople, even as other undercurrents of social issues lurk beneath the surface. Themes of social class, personal identity, and the intricacies of societal expectations blend in the interactions among the characters.