The Narrow House

"The Narrow House" by Evelyn Scott is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story explores the complexities of family relationships against a backdrop of social issues and personal struggles. Central to the narrative is the character of Winnie, who is caught in the tensions between her immediate family and her affluent parents, navigating her turbulent emotions and health issues amidst a fraught domestic atmosphere. The beginning of "The Narrow House" introduces us to Mrs. Farley, who embodies the struggles of the working class as she navigates her day and contemplates her family’s dynamics. In her interactions with her daughter-in-law Winnie, we see a woman torn between familial loyalty and the pressures of societal expectations. Winnie grapples with her insecurities about her marriage to Laurence, her health, and her relationship with her parents, who arrive after years of estrangement. This opening portion establishes the emotional landscape of the characters, hinting at past grievances and unresolved tensions that will likely unfold throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Evelyn Scott was an American novelist, playwright and poet. A modernist and experimental writer, she "was a significant literary figure in the 1920s and 1930s, but she eventually sank into critical oblivion".