An English Squire

"An English Squire" by Christabel R. Coleridge is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the Lester family, particularly Mr. Gerald Lester, the head of the household and owner of Oakby Hall, as well as his children, including the protagonist Cheriton Lester. The narrative explores themes of family dynamics, class, and the impact of a foreign heir, Alvar, who reenters their lives after years of absence in Spain. The opening portion of the novel introduces the Lester family and their home, Oakby Hall, establishing a picturesque, yet somewhat formidable setting in the English countryside. As the family prepares for the arrival of their elder brother Alvar, who has lived abroad, a mix of excitement and apprehension fills the household. Cheriton and his siblings exhibit curiosity and trepidation about this stranger who bears the title of heir. Tensions arise as they navigate their emotions regarding his foreign upbringing compared to their own, setting the stage for potential conflicts and sibling relationships that develop throughout the story. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Christabel Rose Coleridge was an English novelist and an editor of girls' magazines, sometimes in collaboration with the novelist Charlotte Mary Yonge. Her views on the role of women in society were conservative.