"Esther: A Book for Girls" by Rosa Nouchette Carey is a novel set in Victorian England, focusing on the experiences and personal growth of its young protagonist, Esther. The story delves into themes of girlhood, family, friendship, and moral values, portraying the challenges and triumphs that shape Esther's journey from adolescence to maturity. Esther's life is deeply rooted in domestic life and the social expectations of the time. As she navigates her way through the complexities of Victorian society, she encounters various challenges that test her resilience and virtue. The novel emphasizes the importance of education and personal growth, highlighting how these elements contribute to Esther's character development. The narrative also explores themes of love and romance, capturing the emotional nuances of Esther's relationships and the choices she must make. Through Esther's experiences, Carey illustrates the coming-of-age process for young girls in Victorian England, emphasizing the importance of maintaining moral values and resilience in the face of adversity. The novel paints a vivid picture of domestic life and the social expectations placed on girls, offering readers a rich and engaging portrayal of Esther's journey toward adulthood.
Rosa Nouchette Carey was an English children's writer and famous novelist whose writings represented contemporary norms and were seen as wholesome for girls. However, "not entirely bereft of grit and realism." Rosa was born in Stratford-le-Bow, the sixth of seven children of shipbroker William Henry Carey (died 1867) and his wife, Maria Jane (died 1870), Edward J. Wooddill's daughter. She grew raised in London, namely on Tryons Road in Hackney, Middlesex, and South Hampstead. She received her education both at home and at the Ladies' Institute in St John's Wood, where she met and befriended the German-born poet Mathilde Blind (1841-1896). Nellie's Memories appears to have sold more than 50,000 copies. Most of her 33 three-decker novels portrayed devout, home stories, which were considered wholesome fiction for girls in the last third of the nineteenth century. Often sentimental, they represent the beliefs of the time, "treating housekeeping and the woman's caring role as real work." However, her 1869 novel Wee Wifie contains vitriol, opium addiction, and hereditary lunacy. Also noteworthy are Carey's empathetic portraits of women suffering from mental illnesses. Several novels argue that "control of the will," as recommended by psychiatrist Henry Maudsley, helps protect mental health. One of her novels, Heriot's Choice (1879), was serialized in Charlotte M. Yonge's journal The Monthly Packet, and another, Mistress of Brae Farm (1896), in Argosy.
