Hester

In Hester, John Vernon walks off with the bank’s money.  Catherine Vernon saves the town from ruin.  After this, she is in a position of power and is treated with utmost respect. Later on John’s daughter, Hester and Catherine are enemies.  Hester doesn’t know about the act of her father yet despite this the two mutually hate each other.  Throughout the book, Hester has a number of suitors: Harry, Roland, and Edward.  Edward is the one she wants, although Catherine looks upon him as a son.  It isn’t until Edward does something of a dishonest nature that Catherine and Hester build a relationship.  I read this book because I don’t know enough about female writers from the 1800’s, that is except the Brontes and Jane Austen. Although it was more than 400 pages I got through it in a reasonable time.  The author Margaret Oliphant wrote works about the supernatural as well.  I'll have to look into those. 3/5