Victorian Orphan

Pip is an orphan, brought up in a village on the Essex marshes by his disagreeable sister and her husband Joe Gargery, the kind-hearted village blacksmith. Life is harsh and Pip has few prospects until he receives from an anonymous benefactor the chance of escaping the forge for a more promising life in London. But his expectations are fraught with difficulties as he is haunted by figures from his past such as the escaped convict Magwitch, the eccentric Miss Havisham, and her proud, beautiful ward, Estella.

A world-weary detective and a mysterious young boy hunt an unspeakable terror in a haunting short story by the internationally bestselling author of Ordinary Monsters. Horror is loose in the gaslit streets of London. David Pye, an urchin who barely escaped an orphanage fire, saw something...

Maeve Merritt chafes at the rigid rules at her London boarding school for “Upright Young Ladies.” When punishment forces her to sort through the trash, she finds a sardine tin that houses a foul-tempered djinni with no intention of submitting to a schoolgirl as his master. Soon an orphan boy from the charitable home next door, a mysterious tall man in ginger whiskers, a disgruntled school worker, and a take-no-prisoners business tycoon are in hot pursuit of Maeve and her magical discovery.

A helpless baby is forsaken in a churchyard. This is how life begins for orphan Emma. Unwanted, cast aside, and thrown on the mercy of strangers, she grows up wondering why. And what are the mysterious gifts each year, placed where her cradle was once abandoned? Now blossomed to youthful beauty but shunned by society, the man she loves is forbidden to marry or court her.

She wanted sanctuary... Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar's Abbey isn't the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill - though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome - is anything but a romantic hero. He needed redemption... Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison.

Solicitor Tom Finchley has spent his life using his devious intellect to solve the problems of others. As for his own problems, they're nothing that a bit of calculated vengeance can't remedy. But that's all over now. He's finally ready to put the past behind him and settle down to a quiet, uncomplicated life. Former lady's companion Jenny Holloway has just been given a modest independence. Now, all she wants is a bit of adventure. A chance to see the world and experience life far outside the restrictive limits of Victorian England.

As a lady's companion, Clara Hartwright never receives much attention from anyone. And that's precisely how she likes it. With a stormy past, and an unconventional plan for her future, it's far safer to remain invisible. But when her new employer is invited to a monthlong holiday at a remote coastal abbey, Clara discovers that she may not be as invisible as she'd hoped. At least, not as far as one gentleman is concerned.

Mary Jekyll and the Athena Club foil a plot to unseat the Queen and race to save one of their own in this electrifying conclusion to the Locus Award winning trilogy that began with The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter. Life’s always an adventure for the Athena Club...especially when...

Winner of the UK’s Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller Competition, this page-turning debut novel follows an orphan whose late, beloved best friend bequeaths her a treasure hunt that leads her all over Victorian England and finally to the one secret her friend never shared. It is 1831 when...

It's been three years since Laura Hayes' father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family's failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.

Long ago in London Town, at a time when the muffin man's cries began the day and the lamplighter ushered in the night, two young orphans lived together in the bleak, cold shelter of a public workhouse.

Nobody's Girl (originally En Famille in French) is an 1893 novel by French author Hector Malot, serving as a companion to his more famous work Sans Famille (Nobody's Boy). The novel tells the story of Perrine Paindavoine, a young girl who faces hardship and poverty after being orphaned. The story follows Perrine as she travels with her sick mother from India to France, hoping to find refuge with her paternal grandfather. When her mother dies during the journey, Perrine arrives in the industrial town of Maraucourt alone and penniless. Unrecognized by her wealthy but stern grandfather, who ...

Discovery. Desire. Deception. A wondrously imagined tale of two female botanists, separated by more than a century, in a race to discover a life-saving flower . . . In Victorian England, headstrong adventuress Elizabeth takes up her late father's quest for a rare, miraculous plant. She faces a...

• Adapted in clearer contemporary language for easier reading • Preserves the plot, characters, humor, and emotional arc • Clean chapter navigation for study, rereading, and book clubs Follow David from his uneasy birth in Suffolk through cruelty at home, schoolroom humiliations, factory labor, friendship, love, betrayal, and hard-won self-knowledge. This Adapted for Modern Readers edition presents the great Victorian coming-of-age story in smoother modern language while keeping the narrative voice, comic timing, social criticism, and deeply felt character journey that make the novel ...

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin. Within the dazzling halls of London’s...

Step into the world of Victorian England with "Great Expectations: Adapted for Modern Readers," where Charles Dickens' timeless tale of ambition and self-discovery is brought to life with refreshed language and clean formatting. This edition retains the original plot and themes but offers contemporary typography and lightly clarified language, making it more accessible without losing the charm and wit that Dickens is renowned for. Experience the rich tapestry of 19th-century society as you follow Pip's journey from humble beginnings to the complexities of wealth and personal growth. This ...

Step into the timeless world of "Jane Eyre," now adapted for modern readers. This refreshed edition retains Charlotte Brontë's captivating narrative while offering a more accessible reading experience with contemporary typography and lightly clarified language. The enduring tale of resilience and self-discovery is now easier to navigate, making it perfect for both first-time readers and those revisiting a classic with a modern twist. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century England, "Jane Eyre" explores themes of love, independence, and morality with emotional depth and intensity. Follow ...

Two orphaned sisters. Two callings. One unforgettable journey. When orphan twins Alice and Emily Jones lose their closest friend to the cruelty of the Manchester workhouse, they believe hope has abandoned them forever. Then, on a cold winter morning, a compassionate nun named Sister Constance offers them kindness. This becomes the thread that carries them through a decade of suffering. Years later, the twins leave the workhouse and enter a place foreign to them, seeking refuge and purpose. For Emily, the path ahead is clear. For Alice, it is far more complicated. When one of the twins meets...

She was hunted for her talent. He was desperate for inspiration. Her secret might be the key to saving them both. On the icy streets of London, orphaned Mabel does her best to stay hidden. Because in London’s darkest alleys, being noticed can cost you everything. When a ruthless gang marks her as their next target, Mabel runs straight into the arms of something she doesn’t understand—kindness. Taken in by a convent filled with forgotten girls, she finds warmth, food… and a dangerous new hope. When a struggling composer discovers her hidden talent, he sees more than a street orphan...

Punished for learning. Rescued by mercy. Transformed by love. Rescued from a cruel orphanage, Florence Jones finds an unexpected place of refuge. A new home that offers hope where she had only experienced darkness before. Where education, kindness, and hope begin to bloom. Edwin Williams, a man bound by duty, is drawn to her quiet strength, their growing bond threatens the rigid lines of class and expectation. But when her past returns, Florence must decide if she will remain bound by it… or fight for the future she deserves. A sweeping Victorian romance about courage, compassion, and the...