Lucretia — Volume 04

"Lucretia — Volume 04" by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton is a fictional novel likely written in the early 19th century. The story navigates through themes of love, ambition, and societal aspirations, setting a dramatic tone against a backdrop of personal and familial turmoil. Central characters introduced include Percival St. John, a young man with noble ambitions, Helen Mainwaring, the object of his affections, and John Ardworth, who embodies a more tragic pursuit of purpose and potential. The beginning of the novel introduces several key elements that will shape the narrative. We see the melancholic reflection of Charles Vernon’s widow, who mourns the loss of her husband and children while contemplating the changes in her life. Meanwhile, Helen, described as innocent and impressionable, is introduced through her interaction with her guardian, Mr. Fielden. The opening scenes not only highlight the contrasting lives of the social elite with the less fortunate, including the sweeper Beck, but also set the stage for the central romantic tension when Percival St. John becomes enchanted by Helen. Their innocence and budding affection juxtaposed with the darker undertones of ambition, societal pressures, and personal loss foreshadow a complex tale that intertwines romance with the harsher realities of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton,, was an English writer and politician. He served as a Whig member of Parliament from 1831 to 1841 and a Conservative from 1851 to 1866. He was Secretary of State for the Colonies from June 1858 to June 1859, choosing Richard Clement Moody as founder of British Columbia. He was created Baron Lytton of Knebworth in 1866.