The Guarded Flame (1906)

The Guarded Flame is a novel written by William Babington Maxwell and published in 1906. The story is set in the early 1900s and follows the lives of two families, the Duff Gordons and the Duffields, who are connected by a secret that has been guarded for generations. The novel explores themes of family, love, betrayal, and the consequences of keeping secrets.The Duff Gordons are a wealthy family who live in a grand estate in Scotland. They are led by the patriarch, Sir James Duff Gordon, who is determined to keep the family secret hidden at all costs. The Duffields are a less affluent family who live in a nearby village and are connected to the Duff Gordons through a complicated web of relationships.The novel begins with the arrival of a young woman named Isabel Duffield, who has been hired as a governess for the Duff Gordon children. Isabel is immediately drawn to the handsome and charming heir to the Duff Gordon estate, David. However, their budding romance is complicated by the family secret and the disapproval of Sir James.As the story progresses, more secrets are revealed and the relationships between the characters become increasingly entangled. The novel culminates in a dramatic confrontation between the two families, which leads to a shocking revelation and a tragic ending.Overall, The Guarded Flame is a captivating novel that explores the complexities of family relationships and the consequences of keeping secrets. It is a timeless story that will resonate with readers of all ages.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.