The Two Families: And The Duty That Lies Nearest (1848)

By Mary Livermore

Book Overview

The Two Families: And The Duty That Lies Nearest is a novel written by Mary Livermore and published in 1848. The book tells the story of two families, the Gordons and the Lanes, who are united by a shared tragedy. The Gordons are a wealthy family living in New York City, while the Lanes are a poor family from the country. When a fire breaks out in the Gordons' home, the Lanes come to their rescue and are hailed as heroes. The two families become close, but their differences in social status and wealth create tension. The novel explores themes of class, duty, and family relationships. Livermore uses the story to critique the social inequalities of her time and to argue for the importance of helping those less fortunate. She also emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duty to others, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. Overall, The Two Families: And The Duty That Lies Nearest is a thought-provoking novel that offers insight into the social and moral issues of mid-19th century America.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1167175999
• ISBN13: 9781167175992
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 86 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"