Homes made and marred : a book for working men and their wives. by Guernsey
"Homes made and marred" by Lucy Ellen Guernsey is a didactic domestic novel written in the mid-19th century. It examines how working-class homes are strengthened or destroyed by temperance, faith, and character, following Matthew Hill, his high-spirited wife Jane, and the steadying influence of the benevolent Mrs. Oakland and the reformed couple Benjamin and Ellen Field. The opening of the story presents Matthew, a capable young workman, seeking to marry Jane, a
long-time servant of Mrs. Oakland, who warns them about drink and Jane’s quick temper. Early married harmony fractures when a chaotic “soot-and-brick” mishap erupts Jane’s anger, driving Matthew to the public house and into a fever that lands him in the infirmary, where her coldness persists. After recovery he leaves home, sending money but no address, while Jane hardens in pride and, under the gossiping Mrs. Swinden’s influence, slips into “cordials,” neglects the children’s schooling, and doses the ailing baby. Mrs. Oakland meets Matthew by chance at a railway station, urging him to return before worse befalls, even as a policeman later brings news of tragedy in the Swinden household. The section closes by shifting to a warmly ordered home preparing to welcome an elderly guest, hinting at “new scenes among old friends” as a counterpoint to the troubled household. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Guernsey, Lucy Ellen, 1826-1899 |
|---|---|
| Title | Homes made and marred : a book for working men and their wives. |
| Alternate Title | Homes made & marred |
| Original Publication | London: The Religious Tract Society, 1873. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Christian life -- Fiction |
| Subject | Conduct of life -- Fiction |
| Subject | Temperance -- Fiction |
| Subject | Families -- Fiction |
| Subject | Spouses -- Fiction |
| Subject | Temper -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77998 |
| Release Date | Feb 21, 2026 |
| Most Recently Updated | Feb 26, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 212 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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