Missing

by Mrs. Humphry Ward

Excerpt from Missing

But Bridget Cookson was not admiring the view. It was not new to her, and moreover she was not in love with Westmorland at all; and why Nelly should have chosen this particular spot to live in, while George was at the war, she did not understand. She believed there was some sentimental reason. They had first seen him in the Lakes - just before the war - when they two girls and their father were staying actually in this very lodging-house. But sentimental reasons are nothing.

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Mary Augusta Ward CBE (nee Arnold) was an English novelist who wrote under her married name as Mrs. Humphry Ward. Mary Augusta Arnold was born in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, into a prominent intellectual family of writers and educationalists. Mary was the daughter of Tom Arnold, a professor of literature, and Julia Sorrell. Her uncle was the poet Matthew Arnold and her grandfather Thomas Arnold, the famous headmaster of Rugby School. Her sister Julia married Leonard Huxley, the son of Thomas Huxley, and their sons were Julian and Aldous Huxley. The Arnolds and the Huxleys were an important influence on British intellectual life.Mary's father Tom Arnold was appointed inspector of schools in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) and commenced his role on 15 January 1850. Tom Arnold was received into the Roman Catholic Church on 12 January 1856, which made him so unpopular in his job (and with his wife) that he resigned and left for England with his family in July 1856. Mary Arnold had her fifth birthday the month before they left, and had no further connection with Tasmania. Tom Arnold was ratified as chair of English literature at the contemplated Catholic university, Dublin, after some delay. Mary Augusta Ward died in London, England, and was interred at Aldbury in Hertfordshire, near her beloved country home Stocks.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook provided by Librovox with an excellent narration by Simon Evers. This WW1 story was a fascinating look into the past as an author who lived it may have seen the world at that time.
If this was brought back and published now, I believe it would be quite well received. There was a way of speaking from that time period that I believe authors of today have a very hard time imitating. Per haps it was also a way of thinking that is past and beyond recapturing in our modern hurried society. I will be looking for other books by this author.