Harriette E. Burch

A painting competition with a prize of five guineas exacerbates existing tensions between the girls at Miss Simpson's seminary for young ladies in this Victorian girls' school story, published in 1888 by The Religious Tract Society. Talented newcomer Norah Soane, unpopular with some of the other girls because she is small, dark and of Irish extraction, seems the likely winner, so everyone is surprised when Amy Bruce wins the coveted prize instead. Tottie (Charlotte) Middleton knows more than she is telling however - something telegraphed throughout the tale - and the story concludes with her struggle to confess, and find her way back to God.

As much family story as it is a tale of school, Tempted; or, The Old Lady's Prize devotes as much time to Norah's unhappy home life with her stern widowed father, and her mean-spirited bully of an aunt, Mrs. Barsom, as it does to the schoolgirl rivalries that form the crux of the larger plot. Unlike so many vintage girls' stories I have come across, which tend to feature characters ranging from the genteel poor to royalty in hiding, Harriette E. Burch's story is solidly middle class in its orientation, with the local family of note - the Prestwicks, whose daughter Ellinor is one of the pupils at Miss Simpson's - being in the banking business. As can be expected of a title from this publisher, there are strong Christian themes throughout the story. Norah and Ellinor debate at one point about which is more trying for Christians to endure: many little trials, akin to a swarm of mosquitos, or one great trial, comparable to facing a lion in the arena. The conclusion relies heavily upon the idea of conversion to a better way, as the prayers of Tottie's younger sister Lillie lead her to prayer herself, and thence to reform. All ends happily, of course, as Tottie confesses she deliberately ruined Norah's painting, and is forgiven by both Amy and Norah, before going on to become an exemplar of Christian piety and love. Although not particularly enthralling, Tempted was a fairly interesting example of Victorian Christian fiction for children, with a (partial) school setting that will make it particularly appealing for fans of the school story. That said, I did feel that the subplot involving Norah and her family might have been more conclusively tied up. There's an implication, after Norah's brother Arthur confesses his wrongdoing to Mr. Soane, that that unbending gentleman might be aware of his sister's excesses, but in general the question of the Soane family's home-life is left hanging. This unsatisfying state of affairs led me to deduct half a star, otherwise this would have been a solid three-star story for me. Recommended to readers interested in Victorian children's fare, particularly with a school setting.… (plus d'informations)