Materfamilias

"Materfamilias" by Ada Cambridge is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers on Mary, who navigates difficult personal choices after her father's remarriage to her governess, highlighting themes of love, duty, and resilience. As she embarks on a journey to re-establish a connection with her estranged husband, Edward, the narrative explores her relationships, self-discovery, and the societal pressures of the time. The opening of "Materfamilias" introduces us to Mary as she grapples with familial upheaval following her father's second marriage, and her decision to leave home rather than accept a new mother figure. Striking out on her own, Mary marries Edward in secrecy, but finds herself struggling with the harsh realities of life, particularly when she learns of her husband's illness in Australia. Determined to be by his side, she embarks on a challenging voyage aboard a small ship captained by Thomas Braye. Her feelings of vulnerability and the budding sense of companionship with Captain Braye set the stage for Mary’s growth and transformation throughout the narrative. The opening thus lays the groundwork for an exploration of marriage, independence, and the complexities of motherhood amid societal expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Ada Cambridge, later known as Ada Cross, was an English-born Australian writer. She wrote more than 25 works of fiction, three volumes of poetry and two autobiographical works. Many of her novels were serialised in Australian newspapers but never published in book form. While she was known to friends and family by her married name, Ada Cross, her newspaper readers knew her as A.C. She later reverted to her maiden name, Ada Cambridge, and that is how she is known today.