The Path of a Star

"The Path of a Star" by Sara Jeannette Duncan is a novel written during the late 19th century. The narrative introduces complex characters navigating their lives in Calcutta, particularly focusing on their roles in society and the contrasts between their personal beliefs and the expectations placed upon them. The story likely explores themes of identity, faith, and the arts, with a particular emphasis on the lives of women in a changing world. At the start of the novel, we meet two prominent characters: Hilda Howe, an actress with a vibrant personality, and Laura Filbert, a Salvation Army worker filled with conviction. Their interaction sets the stage for a discussion of their differing views on happiness and purpose. Hilda exhibits a sense of privilege and ease that comes with her artistic lifestyle, while Laura embodies the austerity and dedication of her mission work. The opening chapter delves into their dialogue, highlighting Laura's passionate beliefs and Hilda's charmingly cynical perspective, while also introducing a third character, Duff Lindsay, who becomes an element of their dynamic. The atmosphere is rich with cultural nuances, as the story unfolds against the backdrop of colonial India, setting the tone for a deeper exploration of societal roles and personal aspirations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sara Jeannette Duncan was a Canadian author and journalist, who also published as Mrs. Everard Cotes and Garth Grafton among other names. First trained as a teacher in a normal school, she took to poetry early in life and after a brief teaching period worked as a travel writer for Canadian newspapers and a columnist for the Toronto Globe. Afterward she wrote for the Washington Post where she was put in charge of the current literature section. Later she made a journey to India and married an Anglo-Indian civil servant thereafter dividing her time between England and India. She wrote 22 works of fiction, many with international themes and settings. Her novels met with mixed acclaim and are rarely read today. In 2016, she was named a National Historic Person on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.