The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This section introduces us to Mr. Penlyon, his friend, and his niece. The book opens with Penlyon rather down on Christmas. He is even compared to Scrooge. But everyone agrees it would be different if there were children. What do you think of the various ideas to "import" children?

Next we learn some of Penlyon's past. He hasn't exactly been a good family man, only realizing after her death how he had neglected his wife. He tries to make up for that by spoiling his daughters, but his sister later takes them in hand. What are the consequences of the different stages of their upbringing?

What a fun read! It has everything necessary for a good Christmas tale so far - a curmudgeonly old man, adorable children, a sad backstory, and an angel in the form of a lifelong friend! Mr. Dickens would be proud.

We haven't actually seen children yet in this section, but they are coming.

I really loved the preface and was a little bored with chapters 1&2. looking forward to 3.

I found it touching when Sir John found his wife's journal and realized the truth about how he had treated her. Braddon writes that he finds it while "looking for a missing list of family jewels - jewels which his dead wife had worn on state occasions, and which were to go back to the bank, and to lie in darkness, like her who had worn them."

The edition I'm reading on archive.org has some wonderful illustrations by F. H. Townsend:

Thanks for posting the illustrations! I only have this on audio. Please continue to do so if you don't mind.

Catching up. Just finished listening to Chapter Two. Definitely getting some Dickens vibes, what with the sad backstory, the revelation of his late wife’s affections and realisation of how he neglected the daughters. I’m glad that the girls had at least five years of happy childhood before the aunt arrived.
But of course, things couldn’t stay that good for very long. Looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds.

I'm also late to the party but enjoying it so far.

The idea of "hiring" children for Christmas made me think immediately of the Braddon story we read last year-My First Happy Christmas-in which some boys stuck at boarding school for the holidays are invited to spend Christmas with an elderly gentleman. It's a lovely little read and appropriate for the season if you can find it.

I'm quite enjoying this so far, and agree Olga that this is quite a sad backstory. Why is John Penlyon such a bad judge of women-not understanding his wife's genuine affection for him, failing to rescue his daughters from their awful Aunt and new governess, and then apparently cutting his beloved daughter out of his life because she saved herself and behaved in the way she was always allowed to behave as a youngster-having her own way entirely.

Mr Danny does seem an angel, though-he was so good to those little girls and clearly is beloved wherever he goes.

Frances wrote: "Mr Danny does seem an angel, though-he was so good to those little girls and clearly is beloved wherever he goes..."

Yes, he's kind of a Loveable Leech. (Braddon said nobody dared call him a 'toady' 'sponge' 'hanger-on' or 'parasite' so I chose leech) Braddon seems to indicate that he does work for a living as a guest-for-hire. In return for the room and board he receives that keeps him from having to arrange his own residence, his personality and actions serve to enrich the living experience of everyone at the residence he 'visits.'
He's good at his job and thus, his services are in demand as he is booked up for three years. Interesting career and housing choice.

I like those illustrations Erich posted. I've opened that site and I'm going to try reading the 2nd session's chapters in that version.

Thanks for the illustrations, Erich! They're great.
That really is a terrible aunt!
I was expecting one of the daughters to die so I am glad that the younger daughter ran off with the curate!
Penlyon is not a bad man, but he's really rather clueless.