The confessions of a well-meaning woman

"The Confessions of a Well-Meaning Woman" by Stephen McKenna is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around Lady Ann Spenworth, a woman of the aristocracy, as she navigates the complexities of her life, family relationships, and societal expectations in a changing world. We explore her reflections on her recently undergone operation, her role within her family, and the dynamics of social propriety, family loyalty, and personal sacrifice. At the start of the novel, we find Lady Ann recovering from surgery in a nursing home and reflecting on her past, including her experiences with her family, particularly her husband Arthur's family and her brother-in-law Spenworth. Amidst her recovery, she contemplates her relationships and the obligations of family, particularly concerning her son Will’s future and the importance of ensuring he has financial stability. Her observations reveal a tangled web of family dynamics, emotional estrangement, and societal pressures as she grapples with her sense of duty and the role of women in her social circle, particularly regarding marriage and affluence. The opening sets the tone for a critical examination of the life of a well-meaning woman like Lady Ann, seeking to navigate her position with grace and integrity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Stephen McKenna was an English novelist who wrote forty-seven novels, mostly focusing on English upper-class society, and six non-fiction titles. He published his first novel, The Reluctant Lover, in 1912. His best-known novel, Sonia: Between Two Worlds, was published in 1917. It was the tenth best-selling novel for 1918 in the United States, and also made into a British film of the same name in 1921.