From the author of the bestselling Jalna series! Writing in isolation was never trickier than in this full house.

In this short but poignant tale, Mazo de la Roche tells the story of a small boy from an orphan home who has come to work for two sisters — Mrs Morton and Lydia Dove — who are, in old age, suffering greatly reduced circumstances. They have rented out half of their house to a writer, Lindley, who has sought out this isolated spot for the writing of a novel.

However, the seclusion promised him is broken by strange and frightening events. The sisters’ struggle over the boy, Lindley’s love for the boy, his efforts to keep himself aloof for the writing of his book, are related by Mazo de la Roche with that complete belief in her characters which makes them live for the reader.

Mazo de la Roche, in 1927, was an impoverished writer in Toronto when she won a $10,000 prize from The Atlantic Monthly for her novel Jalna. The book became an immediate bestseller and was eventually adapted for stage, screen, and television. Known for creating unforgettable characters that come to life for her readers, Mazo de la Roche is truly an icon of Canadian literature.

In 1927, Mazo de la Roche was an impoverished writer in Toronto when she won a $10,000 prize from the American magazine Atlantic Monthly for her novel Jalna. The book became an immediate bestseller. In 1929, the sequel Whiteoaks also went to the top of bestseller lists. Mazo went on to publish 16 novels in the popular series about a Canadian family named Whiteoak, living in a house called Jalna. Her success allowed her to travel the world and to live in a mansion near Windsor Castle. Mazo created unforgettable characters who come to life for her readers, but she was secretive about her own life and tried to escape the public attention her fame brought.

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