At love's cost

"At Love's Cost" by Charles Garvice is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story introduces us to Stafford Orme, a young man embarking on an unplanned journey through the wilderness, accompanied by his cynical friend Edmund Howard. Throughout their first encounter, the pair candidly express their emotions and expectations, only for their path to lead them to unforeseen beauty and potential romance. The beginning of the novel sets the tone for a journey filled with introspection and character dynamics. Stafford, initially reluctant to partake in the trip, rapidly transforms as he encounters the breathtaking landscapes and an unexpected connection with Ida Heron, a striking young woman who exhibits grace and independence. As they share moments that hint at deeper themes of social class, familial duty, and the struggles of the Heron family, the narrative intertwines Stafford's burgeoning infatuation with Ida and his ambiguous lineage. This blend of rich character interactions and atmospheric setting paints a vivid picture and establishes a romantic premise that draws the reader in. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Garvice was a prolific British writer of over 150 romance novels, who also used the female pseudonym Caroline Hart. He was a popular author in the UK, the United States and translated around the world. He was ‘the most successful novelist in England’, according to Arnold Bennett in 1910. He published novels selling over seven million copies worldwide by 1914, and since 1913 he was selling 1.75 million books annually, a pace which he maintained at least until his death. Despite his enormous success, he was poorly received by literary critics, and is almost forgotten today.