Geoffrey Strong

"Geoffrey Strong" by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards is a tale set in the late 1800s, telling of Doctor Geoffrey Strong's arrival in the little town of Elmerton, where he hopes to start his practice alongside the respected Blyth sisters, Miss Phoebe and Miss Vesta. The story seems to explore themes of love, healing, and how people connect, all woven into the lives of the sisters, especially Vesta, who still feels the sadness of losing someone she loved years ago. The novel starts with Doctor Strong driving into town, noticing the beauty of the Blyth sisters' home, called the Temple of Vesta, and his talk with the local doctor reveals the mysterious nature of the sisters, particularly Vesta, who keeps a light burning in memory of her fiancé, who drowned many years before. As the young doctor gets used to life in a small town, we see him trying to get to know Miss Phoebe and Vesta, while also dealing with what people expect of him and with how he feels, with the beautiful descriptions of the setting and the characters' relationships, pointing to a thoughtful look at relationships, loss, and what it means to be human.