The Complete Works of Rhoda Broughton. Illustrated - Alas!, Doctor Cupid, Nancy, A Fool in Her Folly, Lavinia, and Others

The Complete Works of Rhoda Broughton brings together the most significant novels and stories of one of the most distinctive voices of Victorian fiction. Known for her bold treatment of emotion, desire, and female independence, Rhoda Broughton challenged the conventions of her time with wit, psychological insight, and striking narrative honesty. This collection includes celebrated works such as Alas!, Doctor Cupid, Nancy, A Fool in Her Folly, and Lavinia, alongside other key writings. In these novels, Broughton explores love in its many forms—romantic obsession, disappointment, moral conflict, and emotional resilience—often centering on women who struggle against social expectations and restrictive norms. Her heroines are intelligent, passionate, and flawed, making them unusually modern for nineteenth-century literature. Broughton’s prose is marked by sharp dialogue, ironic humor, and a keen awareness of social hypocrisy. She depicts Victorian society with both elegance and subversive insight, exposing the emotional costs of rigid morality and unequal gender roles. While her stories often focus on romance, they are equally concerned with autonomy, personal integrity, and the inner lives of women. The illustrated format of this volume enhances the reading experience, evoking the atmosphere of the era and highlighting the emotional intensity of Broughton’s storytelling. Together, these works offer a comprehensive view of an author who bridged sensation fiction, psychological realism, and early feminist thought. The Complete Works of Rhoda Broughton is an essential collection for readers interested in Victorian literature, women’s writing, and the evolution of the English novel. It presents a rich portrait of a writer whose fearless exploration of emotion and identity continues to resonate with modern audiences. CONTENTS: • Not Wisely, but Too Well • Cometh Up as a Flower • Red as a Rose is She • Good-bye, Sweetheart! • Nancy • Joan • Second Thoughts • Belinda • Doctor Cupid • Alas! • A Widower Indeed • Mrs Bligh • A Beginner • Scylla or Charybdis? • Dear Faustina • The Game and the Candle • Foes in Law • Lavinia • A Waif’s Progress • Mamma • The Devil and the Deep Sea • Between Two Stools • Concerning a Vow • Thorn in the Flesh • A Fool in Her Folly