After the unfortunate death of the Halliburton family patriarch, Mrs. Halliburton is forced to support her children alone. Living in a man-favoring society, Mrs. Halliburton struggles to find adequate work that will not compromise her morals and still earn her a decent pay. Having been the wife of a church cleric, Mrs. Halliburton holds a natural and strong reverence for her religion. As her family struggles through poverty, scandal, shame, and grieve, Mrs. Halliburton feels that her faith is among the few things that cannot be taken from her. However, as she allows her religion to guide her, still barely able to provide for her three children, her cousins, the Dares, hold much different standards. Contrasted with her extended family, who live by a code of convivence, Mrs. Halliburton holds her head high and she attempts to redeem her family from their social ruin to achieve a comfortable lifestyle once again. Inspired by some of Mrs. Henry Wood’s own struggles, Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles contains an authentic and touching narrative of self-help and faith. Through the portrayal of Mrs. Halliburton’s virtuous character and the classic rags-to-riches storyline, Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles aims to be an inspirational lesson and promotes moral behavior and faith. Though based in Victorian ideals, this message still holds relevance for modern audiences, for both self-reflection and insight into this historic period. With the detailed depiction of the class system of Victorian England, and the transition between them, Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles provides a personal and thorough perspective of the social order of the mid-to-late 19th century. This edition of Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles by Mrs. Henry Wood now features an eye-catching new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of Mrs. Halliburton’s Troubles creates an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original mastery and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood’s work.
Ellen Price (1814-1887) was an English novelist and translator, better known by her penname, Mrs. Henry Wood. Wood lived with her husband, Henry Wood, and four children in Southern France for twenty years, until moving back to England when Henry’s business failed. In England, Wood supported her family with her writing, becoming an international bestseller. Wood was praised for her masterful storytelling of middle-class lives, and often advocated for faith and strong morals in her work. Wood’s most celebrated work was East Lynne, a sensation novel popular for its elaborate plot. In 1867, Wood became the owner and editor of Argosy Magazine, which she continued to publish until her death in 1887. By the end of her career, Wood published over thirty novels, many of which were immensely popular in England, the United States, and in Australia.
