White Wings: A Yachting Romance, Volume I

"White Wings: A Yachting Romance, Volume I" by William Black is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a group of characters embarking on a yachting trip, led by the Laird of Denny-mains, and introduces central figures such as Mary Avon, who is navigating her own emotional landscape while entwined with the other passengers. The novel likely explores themes of romance, social status, and character development within the picturesque settings of the Scottish coast. The beginning of the narrative sets the stage on a quay with a crowd eagerly anticipating the arrival of a steamer carrying a special guest, Mary Avon, who has just finished caring for a sick relative in Edinburgh. As we are introduced to the Laird and his entourage, their thoughts and conversations reveal expectations about Mary, who is described as charming yet physically fragile. Their growing excitement soon transforms into a heartfelt reception as they eagerly welcome her despite some initial surprise at her appearance. This initial chapter intricately lays the groundwork for future interactions among the characters and hints at budding connections and complexities that will unfold throughout their journey together on the yacht, "White Dove". (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Black was a novelist born in Glasgow, Scotland. During his lifetime, Black's novels were immensely popular and compared favourably with those of Anthony Trollope. However, his fame and popularity did not survive long into the 20th century.