Publisher's Synopsis
Philistia is a novel written by British author Grant Allen. It was first published in 1884 and is considered one of Allen's most popular works. The story is set in London during the late 19th century and follows the life of a young woman named Minna Cairn. Minna is a talented artist who is struggling to make a name for herself in the male-dominated art world. She lives with her aunt and uncle, who are wealthy but unsupportive of her artistic ambitions. Minna is also in love with a man named Cyril Waring, who is a successful journalist and writer. The novel explores themes of gender roles, class, and the struggle for artistic recognition. It also delves into the social and cultural mores of Victorian England, as well as the changing attitudes towards women's rights and the arts. As the story unfolds, Minna faces numerous challenges and setbacks in her quest for success. She must navigate a complex web of relationships and social expectations, all while trying to stay true to her artistic vision. Along the way, she encounters a cast of colorful characters, including fellow artists, journalists, and socialites. Overall, Philistia is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that offers a glimpse into the world of Victorian England and the struggles of women artists. It is a timeless story that continues to resonate with readers today.Of course the house was not vulgarly furnished, at least in the conventional sense of the word; Lady Le Breton was far too rigid in her social orthodoxy to have admitted into her rooms anything that savoured of what she considered bad form, according to her lights. It was only vulgar with the underlying vulgarity of mere tasteless fashionable uniformity. There was nothing in it that any well-bred footman could object to; nothing that anybody with one grain of genuine originality could possibly tolerate. The little occasional chairs and tables set casually about the room were of the strictest neglige Belgravian type, a sort of studied protest against the formal stiffness of the ordinary unused middle-class drawing-room.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.