Clara Hopgood

"A tale of love and independence To the inhabitants of provincial Fenmarket in 1844, the education and independence of Clara and Madge Hopgood is unthinkable. When Madge meets Frank Palmer she is eager to experience the passion she has read of, and they fall in love. Succumbing to desire Madge is left pregnant, only to discover that marriage to Frank would be impossible as other than sexually they are incompatible. Madge's defiance of convention takes her to London with Clara, who struggles to support her sister and the child. Clara too shuns convention and, ultimately, it is through her heroism that Madge's courage is rewarded. A novel that attracted accusations of immorality on its appearance, Clara Hopgood is revolutionary in its treatment of women. The only paperback edition available with introduction, notes, selected criticism, text summary and chronology of Rutherford's life and times."