Under False Pretences: A Novel

Name: Under False Pretences: A Novel
Author: Adeline Sergeant

By Adeline Sergeant

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British Literature Novels

About This Book

The narrative opens with an English family living in an Italian villa whose domestic calm is disrupted when fever and the nurse Vincenza's hidden circumstances create an infant crisis. Secrets and mistaken identities unfold amid courtship, lost letters, accusations and confessions that propel moral and legal dilemmas. The action ranges from village intrigues and distant travel to a dramatic shipwreck, testing loyalties and prompting sacrifices. Revelations gradually clarify past wrongs, leading to atonement, retribution where due, and eventual reconciliation as truth mends fractured relationships.

About the Author

Adeline Sergeant

Adeline Sergeant was a British novelist known for her engaging narratives and exploration of complex relationships. Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, she authored several notable works, including "A Life Sentence," which delves into themes of love and sacrifice. Her novels often reflect the social mores of her time, blending romance with moral dilemmas. In addition to her fiction, Sergeant contributed to the literary landscape with her keen observations of human nature, making her a significant figure in the realm of Victorian literature.