Publisher's Synopsis
The Poor Clare is a novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell, a prominent British author of the Victorian era. Published in 1856, the book tells the story of a young girl named Margaret, who is left orphaned after her father's death. Margaret is taken in by her wealthy aunt, but she is unhappy living in her aunt's luxurious home and yearns for a simpler life.One day, Margaret meets a group of nuns who belong to the Poor Clare order, a religious community known for their vow of poverty. Inspired by their devotion and selflessness, Margaret decides to join the order and become a nun herself. However, her aunt is strongly opposed to this decision and tries to prevent Margaret from following her heart.As Margaret struggles to reconcile her desire for a life of piety with her aunt's expectations, she must also navigate the complex relationships between the nuns in the convent. Along the way, she learns important lessons about faith, love, and sacrifice.The Poor Clare is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of spirituality, class, and gender roles in Victorian society. Gaskell's vivid descriptions of the convent and its inhabitants offer readers a glimpse into a world that was often shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding. Overall, the book is a moving portrait of a young woman's journey of self-discovery and her quest for a meaningful life.She rose from her scat, and came and clutched at my arm and looked in my eyes. There she read, as I suppose, my utter ignorance of what had become of her child; for she went blindly back to her chair, and sat rocking herself and softly moaning, as if I were not there; I not daring to speak to the lone and awful woman. After a little pause, she knelt down before the picture of Our Lady of the Holy Heart, and spoke to her by all the fanciful and poetic names of the Litany.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.