The Real Lady Hilda: A Sketch

"The Real Lady Hilda: A Sketch" by B. M. Croker is a late 19th-century story that looks at Emma Hayes' struggles and life after her husband passes and they must move back from India. The novel explores society, class, and personal goals as Emma deals with the realities of the new life with her stepdaughter, Gwen, who is becoming an adult amid these challenges. The beginning of the book shows Emma and Gwen adjusting to their new, small home in Sussex. Emma's hopeful but unrealistic attitude contrasts with Gwen's growing practicality because of their difficult situation. As the story goes on, the book shows differences between their comfortable life in India and their current lives in England. Their relationships with people around them, like Miss Skuce and the Misses Benny, hints at tension between wanting to improve their social status and the tough truth they face.