Ashcliffe Hall: A tale of the last century

"Ashcliffe Hall: A Tale of the Last Century" by Emily Sarah Holt is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. Set in England, it explores themes of family dynamics, societal norms, and secretive undertones in a historical context. The story follows the Passmore family, particularly focusing on characters like Celia, Lucy, and their various interactions with intriguing visitors and hidden secrets linked to the political climate of their time. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the family members at Ashcliffe Hall as they engage in their daily routines, highlighting their traditional lifestyle. The chapter details interactions between the sisters, Lucy and Celia, as they prepare for tea and reflect on the sermons they endure, revealing a mixture of youthful curiosity and the restrictive expectations of their society. Within this setting, hints of a mysterious world beneath the surface emerge, including concealed chambers and discussions of political intrigue, seeding suspense for the reader and suggesting an exploration of deeper societal issues along with personal struggles as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Emily Sarah Holt (1836–1893) was an English novelist. She was born at Stubbylee, Bacup, in Lancashire, 25 April 1836. She was the eldest daughter of John Holt whose wife Judith was the 3rd daughter of James Mason of Greens. It is said she was educated at Oxford. In late 1893 when at Harrogate, she became ill and went to her brother in Balham (London), where she died on Christmas Day.