A Plucky Girl

"A Plucky Girl" by L. T. Meade is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around a young woman named Westenra Wickham, who faces a dramatic change in her fortunes following the death of her father and the subsequent loss of her family's wealth. Determined to maintain a sense of dignity and purpose, Westenra proposes to start a boarding house in London to support herself and her mother, reflecting her spirited and ambitious character. At the start of the story, Westenra reflects on her privileged upbringing and her father's heroic legacy, as well as the stark reality that both she and her mother are now nearly penniless. Westenra rejects the idea of retreating to a rural life and instead, outlines a plan to take in paying guests in a house they can furnish with their belongings. Despite her mother’s trepidation and the societal implications of their new venture, Westenra's resolve is evident. She embarks on a quest to secure a suitable house and begins reaching out to friends, challenging their perceptions of her and their willingness to support her new direction. The opening portion sets the stage for themes of courage, the struggle against societal norms, and the pursuit of independence amidst adversity. (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.