Publisher's Synopsis
The Massarenes is a novel written by Ouida, also known as Marie Louise de la Ram�����e, and was first published in 1897. The story revolves around the Massarene family, who are wealthy and powerful but also deeply flawed. The patriarch of the family, Lord Massarene, is a cruel and selfish man who uses his wealth and influence to control those around him. His wife, Lady Diana, is a beautiful but vain woman who is more interested in her social status than her family.The novel follows the lives of the Massarene children, who are all struggling to find their place in the world. The eldest son, Reginald, is a talented artist who is forced to give up his dreams in order to manage the family's business affairs. The second son, Cecil, is a weak and ineffectual man who is easily manipulated by his father. The youngest daughter, Sybil, is a rebellious and headstrong woman who defies her family's expectations by pursuing a career in the arts.As the story unfolds, the Massarene family faces a series of crises that threaten to tear them apart. Lord Massarene's greed and cruelty push his children to the brink of despair, and they must find a way to break free from his control and forge their own paths in life. The novel explores themes of family, love, ambition, and the corrupting influence of wealth and power.Overall, The Massarenes is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the wealthy and powerful in late 19th century England.1897. English author, pseudonym of Marie Louise de la Ramee, she was a prolific writer of flamboyant, romantic tales, the best of which are Under Two Flags, Moths, and In Maremma. Her stories for children include Two Little Wooden Shoes, Bimbi, and the well-known Dog of Flanders. The Massarenes begins: Mouse, said her husband to Lady Kenilworth, one morning at Homburg, do you see that large pale woman over there, with a face like a crumpled whitey-brown paper bag? Lady Kenilworth looked. Yes, she said impatiently. Yes. Well?-what?-why? Well, she rolls-she absolutely rolls-wallows-biggest pile ever made out West.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.