Isabelle and Alexander (Proper Romance Victorian)
A Victorian romance set in England about an unhappy marriage may sound like a common theme, but readers will discover an unusual story with sensibilities that reflect our contemporary world. The story unfolds in industrial Manchester, where Alexander Osgood spends long days running his successful cotton mill. Though Isabelle Rackham knows her marriage to handsome Alexander was arranged by their families, she is lonely and confused by his silence and coldness towards her. Then a tragic event damages their already fragile relationship. Can Isabelle help her husband overcome his physical challenges and win his heart, or is she doomed to a loveless marriage?
The dialogue captures the pain and misunderstanding that overwhelm husband and wife. Isabelle’s internal thoughts reveal her despair at their situation, fear of failure, and search for answers. She befriends another family with comparable health and relationship issues much as modern families turn to others for support. Anderson’s colorful descriptions of domestic routine and factory operations create a rich pattern pulsating with life for the reader.
