The Lady of Launay
The Lady of Launay, written by Anthony Trollope, is a novel that explores the complexities of gender roles and societal expectations in Victorian England. The story follows the life of Emily Horton, a young woman who is forced to navigate a society that sees her as nothing more than a possession to be passed down from father to husband. Despite the challenges she faces, Emily remains determined to assert her independence and find her own path in life. Through her experiences, Trollope highlights the limitations placed on women during this time period and the struggles they faced in trying to break free from these constraints.
By Anthony Trollope · First published 1876 · Genre: Romance, Literature, Drama · 28,906 words
First lines
How great is the difference between doing our duty and desiring to do it; between doing our duty and a conscientious struggle to do it; between duty really done and that satisfactory state of mind which comes from a conviction that it has been performed. Mrs. Miles was a lady who through her whole life had thought of little else than duty. Though she was possessed of wealth and social position, though she had been a beautiful woman, though all phases of self-indulgent life had been open to her, she had always adhered to her own idea of duty. Many delights had tempted her. She would fain have travelled, so as to see the loveliness of the world; but she had always remained at home. She could have enjoyed the society of intelligent sojourners in capitals; but she had confined herself to that of her country neighbours. In early youth she had felt herself to be influenced by a taste for dress; she had consequently compelled herself to use raiment of extreme simplicity.
What this Textopian page supports
The Lady of Launay is listed on Textopian as a novella by Anthony Trollope, dated 1876 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Anthony Trollope
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Literature, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 28,906 words
- Structure: 1 section, 374 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lady of Launay by Anthony Trollope
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Lady of Launay?
- How does this novella by Anthony Trollope fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Alice Dugdale by Anthony Trollope
- The Striding Place by Gertrude Atherton
- Hester by Charles Lamb
- Colin by E. F. Benson
- Let Loose by Mary Cholmondeley
- Whose Wife by Edward Dyson
Genres
- Romance — The plot primarily revolves around budding relationships and the emotional struggles that come with it.
- Literature — Anthony Trollope's sophisticated use of language and in-depth exploration of character relationships situates the book within traditional literature.
- Drama — Intense relational conflicts and dramatic developments characterise the narrative.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in the 19th century and includes significant historical context, causing it to fall under the historical fiction genre.
Tags
romance · Victorian · drama · society · class · love · betrayal · family · adventure · mystery · historical · character study