A Clergyman's Daughter

Dorothy Hare, a 28-year-old woman, leads a life of drudgery and self-abnegation in her father's house, helping him stave off creditors and making costumes for fund-raising events. When she is glimpsed in the arms of a local atheist and libertine, she suffers a breakdown and embarks on a journey that leads her to join a group of vagrants, pick hops in Kent, stay in a hotel for "working girls," and sleep rough on the streets of London. A Clergymans Daughter is Orwell's second work of fiction and is a clear prefiguration of later novels such as Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2023
Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Dorothy Hare, a twenty-eight-year-old woman, leads a life of drudgery and self-abnegation in the house of her father, the rector of Knype Hill. She helps him stave off his creditors and makes costumes for fund-raising events. However, when she is glimpsed in the arms of Mr. Warburton, a local atheist and libertine, by the village gossip, Mrs. Semprill, Dorothy suffers a breakdown and embarks on a journey that will see her join a group of vagrants, pick hops in the fields of Kent, stay in a hotel for "working girls," and sleep rough on the streets of London.

A Clergymans Daughter, first published in 1935, is Orwells second work of fiction and is a clear prefiguration of later novels such as Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Nineteen Eighty-Four. In this novel, the protagonist, Dorothy Hare, rebels against and is ultimately vanquished by the society that oppresses her.

The novel begins with Dorothy Hare living in the house of her father, the rector of Knype Hill. Her father is a man of modest means, and Dorothy helps him stave off his creditors and make costumes for fund-raising events. However, her life is not without its challenges. She is constantly reminded of her lowly status and the fact that she is not allowed to attend school.

One day, Dorothy is invited to dinner by Mr. Warburton, a local atheist and libertine. She is excited to go, as she has never been to a dinner party before. However, when she arrives at Mr. Warburton's house, she is shocked to see him in the arms of Mrs. Semprill, the village gossip. Dorothy suffers a breakdown and is struck by amnesia.

As she wanders through the streets of London, Dorothy meets a group of vagrants. They are a motley crew of people who have been forced to live on the streets due to poverty and unemployment. Dorothy joins the group and begins to work with them, picking hops in the fields of Kent and staying in a hotel for "working girls."

However, Dorothy's life on the streets is not easy. She is constantly harassed by the police and by other members of the community. She is also forced to sleep rough on the streets of London, where she is exposed to the harsh realities of life.

Despite her difficult circumstances, Dorothy remains determined to survive. She begins to write a diary, which she uses to record her experiences and her thoughts. She also begins to develop a sense of self-worth and self-respect.

One day, Dorothy meets a man named George Orwell. George is a journalist and a political activist who is working on a book about the working class. He is impressed by Dorothy's story and decides to help her.

George takes Dorothy to a meeting of the Communist Party. Dorothy is initially skeptical of the party, but she is soon won over by its message of social justice and equality. She joins the party and begins to work with them, organizing protests and rallies.

However, Dorothy's involvement with the Communist Party is not without its challenges. She is constantly monitored by the police and by other members of the party. She is also forced to make difficult decisions, such as whether to support the party's policies or to follow her own conscience.

Despite these challenges, Dorothy remains committed to the cause of social justice. She continues to write and to speak out against the injustices of the world. She also becomes a mentor to other young people who are struggling with their own lives.

In the end, Dorothy Hare's journey is a testament to the power of human resilience and determination. She overcomes her challenges and becomes a symbol of hope for others. A Clergymans Daughter is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of social justice, oppression, and the human spirit.

Dorothy Hare, a twenty-eight-year-old woman, leads a life of drudgery and self-abnegation in the house of her father, the rector of Knype Hill. She helps him stave off his creditors and makes costumes for fund-raising events. However, when she is glimpsed in the arms of Mr. Warburton, a local atheist and libertine, by the village gossip, Mrs. Semprill, Dorothy suffers a breakdown and embarks on a journey that will see her join a group of vagrants, pick hops in the fields of Kent, stay in a hotel for "working girls," and sleep rough on the streets of London.

A Clergymans Daughter, first published in 1935, is Orwells second work of fiction and is a clear prefiguration of later novels such as Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Nineteen Eighty-Four. In this novel, the protagonist, Dorothy Hare, rebels against and is ultimately vanquished by the society that oppresses her.

The novel begins with Dorothy Hare living in the house of her father, the rector of Knype Hill. Her father is a man of modest means, and Dorothy helps him stave off his creditors and make costumes for fund-raising events. However, her life is not without its challenges. She is constantly reminded of her lowly status and the fact that she is not allowed to attend school.

One day, Dorothy is invited to dinner by Mr. Warburton, a local atheist and libertine. She is excited to go, as she has never been to a dinner party before. However, when she arrives at Mr. Warburton's house, she is shocked to see him in the arms of Mrs. Semprill, the village gossip. Dorothy suffers a breakdown and is struck by amnesia.

As she wanders through the streets of London, Dorothy meets a group of vagrants. They are a motley crew of people who have been forced to live on the streets due to poverty and unemployment. Dorothy joins the group and begins to work with them, picking hops in the fields of Kent and staying in a hotel for "working girls."

However, Dorothy's life on the streets is not easy. She is constantly harassed by the police and by other members of the community. She is also forced to sleep rough on the streets of London, where she is exposed to the harsh realities of life.

Despite her difficult circumstances, Dorothy remains determined to survive. She begins to write a diary, which she uses to record her experiences and her thoughts. She also begins to develop a sense of self-worth and self-respect.

One day, Dorothy meets a man named George Orwell. George is a journalist and a political activist who is working on a book about the working class. He is impressed by Dorothy's story and decides to help her.

George takes Dorothy to a meeting of the Communist Party. Dorothy is initially skeptical of the party, but she is soon won over by its message of social justice and equality. She joins the party and begins to work with them, organizing protests and rallies.

However, Dorothy's involvement with the Communist Party is not without its challenges. She is constantly monitored by the police and by other members of the party. She is also forced to make difficult decisions, such as whether to support the party's policies or to follow her own conscience.

Despite these challenges, Dorothy remains committed to the cause of social justice. She continues to write and to speak out against the injustices of the world. She also becomes a mentor to other young people who are struggling with their own lives.

In the end, Dorothy Hare's journey is a testament to the power of human resilience and determination. She overcomes her challenges and becomes a symbol of hope for others. A Clergymans Daughter is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of social justice, oppression, and the human spirit.

Weight: 234g
Dimension: 198 x 127 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847499097