Birds of Prey by M. E. Braddon
"Birds of Prey" by M. E. Braddon is a novel likely written in the late 19th century, characterized by its exploration of human relationships, moral dilemmas, and social commentary. The narrative revolves around Philip Sheldon, a surgeon-dentist recently relocated from his small provincial town to London's Fitzgeorge Street, where he grapples with a failing practice and the weight of his past romantic disappointments. The themes of respectability, class, ambition, and underlying tension
in human connections are poised against a backdrop of societal expectations, setting the stage for complex character interactions. At the start of the novel, the narrative introduces the meticulously maintained house of Mr. Sheldon, drawing a contrast between his outward respectability and the inner turmoil of his life. We learn about his previous flirtation with Georgina Cradock, who is now married to his acquaintance Tom Halliday. As Sheldon observes their life upon their visit to London, his suppressed emotions resurface, leading to a blend of nostalgia and discontent. The opening chapters unfold with an examination of Mr. Halliday's mysterious illness, and through dialogues with his brother George and housekeeper Nancy, a sense of impending conflict and intrigue begins to shadow the seemingly mundane existence of the characters, drawing the reader deeper into their world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915 |
|---|---|
| Title | Birds of Prey |
| Credits | Produced by J. Ingram, G. Smith, T. Riikonen, and PG Distributed Proofreaders |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 66.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 9362 |
| Release Date | Nov 1, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jan 2, 2021 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 439 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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