The Career of Claudia

"The Career of Claudia" by Frances Mary Peard is a 19th-century novel that introduces Claudia Hamilton, an ambitious young woman who, after the death of her mother, joins her three cousins. Driven by a thirst for independence, Claudia is eager to embrace this new phase of her life, and considers her career ambitions at a time when women have very few opportunities. We are introduced to Claudia as she arrives at the train station, where her cousins fail to greet her which results in slight disappointment that is quickly waved away. She settles into her new surroundings, while her dreams of becoming a landscape gardener start to grow. Her relationships with her cousins show both support and distrust of her unique goals, paving the way for changes in her character and her relations with those around her, including her cousin Harry Hilton, the judgemental Miss Emily, and Captain Fenwick, which alludes to a romantic undertone.