Ragged Lady — Complete

"Ragged Lady — Complete" by William Dean Howells is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story unfolds in a rural New England setting, focusing on the lives of the Landers, a couple who navigate their summer in a new locale while interacting with the local inhabitants, notably the Claxon family. The interactions reveal themes of class, society, and human connection as the characters explore their lives, desires, and social roles. At the start of the novel, we meet the Landers, who are unfamiliar with their surroundings at Middlemount and encounter a young girl named Clementina Claxon while seeking directions. The amusing and awkward exchanges between Mrs. Lander and Clementina, coupled with a hint of admiration from Mr. Lander, set the stage for their growing interest in the Claxon family. Mrs. Lander's curiosity about the Claxons leads to a deeper exploration of their lives, highlighting their struggles and dreams. The opening portion establishes a rich backdrop of character dynamics, promising an exploration of social class and personal relationships as the narrative unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Dean Howells was an American realist novelist, literary critic, and playwright, nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters". He was particularly known for his tenure as editor of The Atlantic Monthly, as well as for the novels The Rise of Silas Lapham and A Traveler from Altruria, and the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day," which was adapted into a 1996 film of the same name.