Hugh Walpole 
The Duchess of Wrexe (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 

A case of buyer’s remorse, Victorian style: feisty young Rachel chooses a conventional but dull suitor over her rebellious cousin. As her marriage goes into decline, she starts seeing a lot more of the unsuitable man. This 1914 novel shows the influence of Walpole’s mentor, Henry James.

About the author

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was born in Auckland, New Zealand. One of the bestselling writers of the 1920s and ’30s, he was also one of the most prolific authors of his time. His works include thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, and the screenplay for George Cukor’s film of David Copperfield.