Esther Waters

Esther Waters is a novel by George Moore that was an immediate critical and commercial success. It follows the story of Esther Waters, who arrives at the home of the Barfield family in Shoreham to work as a kitchen maid. She is seduced by William Latch and gives birth to a healthy boy. She raises Jackie as a single mother while seeking employment in London.

Format: Hardback
Length: 338 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

Esther Waters, a novel penned by George Moore in 1894, holds the esteemed status of being regarded as his finest work. Its immediate reception was met with both critical acclaim and commercial success, and since then, it has undergone numerous adaptations for the stage, screen, and television. This literary masterpiece bears the unmistakable influence of French naturalist writer Émile Zola, who aimed to depict the profound impact of heredity and social surroundings on the lives of his characters, without evading the realities of poverty, sex, disease, and suffering.

After the untimely passing of her father and the marriage of her mother to an abusive Londoner, Esther Waters finds herself at the doorstep of the Barfield family in Shoreham, where she takes up the role of a kitchen maid. Determined to support herself, she exerts considerable effort in her work, yet her path is soon intertwined with that of a footman named William Latch. Their forbidden romance leads to a tragic turn of events when he elopes with his employers niece, leaving Esther to conceal her pregnancy for as long as possible. Eventually, her secret is uncovered, resulting in her dismissal. Despite the adversities she faces, Esther remains resolute in her determination to provide for her child. She makes the courageous decision to raise Jackie as a single mother while actively seeking employment opportunities in London.

Esther Waters is a poignant and authentic tale that revolves around a woman who defies the societal conventions of her time and pays a heavy price for simply being born into poverty. The story unfolds with a beautifully designed cover and a professionally typeset manuscript, making this edition of George Moore's Esther Waters a timeless classic of Irish literature, reimagined for contemporary readers.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513133768