Maggie Browne, the daughter of a deceased clergyman, is encouraged to give up her own life and passions and devote herself to her brother Edward. Through the example and guidance of her mother--who dotes on Edward constantly--and her mentor, Mrs. Buxton, Maggie learns that self-sacrifice is the key to living a fulfilled life. The precursor to and arguably the template for George Eliot's "The Mill on the Floss," this feminist masterpiece begs the question "How much personal happiness can one forgo in the name of duty and devotion to another? "Maggie's love story, Edward's perfidy, and the dramatic conclusion at sea all blend together seamlessly to make this story a timeless tale.

Elizabeth Gaskell is the author of Cousin Phyllis, The Cranford Chronicles, The Life of Charlotte Brontë, Mary Barton, North and South, and many others.