Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances: Or A Tale For The Rich And Poor is a novel written by American author Timothy Shay Arthur and published in 1847. The story revolves around the lives of two families from different social classes - the wealthy and respected Fairfields and the struggling and impoverished Smiths. The Fairfields are a family of high social standing who prioritize their reputation and maintaining appearances. They are led by the patriarch, Mr. Fairfield, who is a wealthy businessman and a devout Christian. His wife, Mrs. Fairfield, is a socialite who is obsessed with maintaining their status in society. Their daughter, Gertrude, is a beautiful and well-educated young woman who is courted by a wealthy suitor, but she is not interested in him.On the other hand, the Smiths are a poor family who live in a small cottage and struggle to make ends meet. They are led by Mr. Smith, who is a hardworking but uneducated laborer. His wife, Mrs. Smith, is a kind-hearted woman who takes care of their children and the household. Their daughter, Mary, is a sweet and innocent girl who dreams of a better life.The two families are brought together when Gertrude and Mary become friends. Gertrude is drawn to Mary's kindness and simplicity, and Mary is fascinated by Gertrude's elegance and sophistication. As their friendship deepens, Gertrude begins to see the flaws in her own family's values and starts to question the importance of appearances. Meanwhile, Mary's family faces financial difficulties, and they are forced to make difficult choices that challenge their morals.Keeping Up Appearances: Or A Tale For The Rich And Poor is a commentary on the social and economic disparities of the time, and the importance of values such as kindness, honesty, and integrity. It is a story of friendship, love, and the struggle to maintain one's identity and values in a world that values material wealth and social status.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.