Our Bessie

"Our Bessie" by Rosa Nouchette Carey is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Bessie Lambert, a cheerful and optimistic young woman who encounters a series of adventures, particularly highlighted by her meeting with Edna Sefton during a snowbound train journey. The narrative explores themes of family dynamics, social class differences, and the personal growth of Bessie as she navigates her relationships. At the start of the book, Bessie finds herself stranded in a snowdrift while traveling home. She is optimistic about her situation, viewing it as an adventure rather than an inconvenience. Her demeanor contrasts sharply with that of Edna Sefton, a fellow traveler who is distressed and frightened. After a warm exchange, the two girls bond over their backgrounds, revealing Bessie's modest upbringing and Edna's wealth. As the train is eventually freed from the snow, Bessie's kindheartedness and willingness to help Edna set the stage for their evolving friendship, illustrating the beginning of Bessie's journey into a world of social interactions that differ from her own. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Rosa Nouchette Carey was an English children's writer and popular novelist, whose works reflected the values of her time and were thought of as wholesome for girls. However, they are "not entirely bereft of grit and realism."