Lady Betty's governess: or, The Corbet chronicles: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Lady Betty's governess: or, The Corbet chronicles: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Lady Betty's governess: or, The Corbet chronicles is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
Lady Betty''s Governess; or, The Corbet Chronicles by Lucy Ellen Guernsey is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. Set in the 1630s, it follows Margaret Merton, a rector’s daughter who becomes governess and companion to the delicate, hunchbacked Lady Betty Stanton, and frames domestic life, faith, and class with the looming tensions that lead toward England’s civil conflicts. The story blends tender caregiving and moral testing with encounters among clergy, gentry, and servants in a great Devonshire house. The opening of the novel presents a framed chronicle: an older Margaret Corbet addresses her daughters, recalling turbulent changes from Archbishop Laud to the king’s death and the Restoration. Then the narrative shifts to March 1637, where young Margaret Merton’s family, newly impoverished by her father’s death, prepares to leave their rectory; her brother Richard surrenders, for now, his hope of holy orders. A chance meeting with Bishop Joseph Hall brings gentle counsel, a reading list for Richard, and a solemn promise from Margaret to keep daily Scripture. After Felicia (the sharp-tongued aunt) departs with a wealthy relative and the bishop purchases the late rector’s library to aid the family, Margaret travels to Stanton Court. There she wins the confidence of frail, tempestuous Lady Betty by calming her morning fury and dressing her gently, clashes with austere Lady Jemima, and receives quiet support from Lady Stanton. As lessons and simple devotions begin, Margaret explores the village rectory, meets the ceremonious new chaplain, and hears of cousin Walter Corbet’s arrival—early signs of the social and spiritual crosscurrents that will shape her service.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Lady Betty's governess: or, The Corbet chronicles
- Author credits: Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Governesses -- Juvenile fiction
- Great Britain -- History -- Charles I, 1625-1649 -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Historical Novels
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Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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