The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls

"The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls" by L. T. Meade is a novel written in the late 19th century. It centers around three sisters, Primrose, Jasmine, and Daisy Mainwaring, who experience the transformative challenges that come after the death of their mother. The story explores themes of resilience, family bonds, and the quest for independence as the sisters navigate their new life marked by financial difficulties and the necessity of earning a living. At the start of the book, we are introduced to the sisters, whose lives change drastically following the unexpected death of their mother. Each girl has her own distinct personality: Primrose is calm and sensible, Jasmine is spirited and romantic, and Daisy, the youngest, is sweet and innocent. The narrative delves into their early days of loss as they seek to adjust to their circumstances, grappling with grief while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. The sisters' close bond is highlighted, as is their determination to stay together despite the hardships ahead, setting the stage for their journey towards self-sufficiency and personal growth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith (1844–1914), writing under the pseudonym L. T. Meade, was a prolific writer of girls' stories. She was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, daughter of Rev. R. T. Meade, of Nohoval, County Cork. She later moved to London, where she married Alfred Toulmin Smith in September 1879.