East Lynne

Summary

Lady Isabel, an aristocratic woman, abandons her husband and children due to her suspicions of infidelity, fueled by the manipulations of the cunning Captain Levison. She embarks on a life on the continent with Levison, but eight years later, she returns to England to find her husband has remarried. Driven by her longing to be close to her family, Lady Isabel disguises herself and gains employment as a governess, only to be met with the tragic loss of her young son, Willie, an event that ultimately claims her own life as well.

Synopsis

An aristocratic woman, Lady Isabel, leaves her husband and children when she suspects him of adultery, a notion which had been suggested to her by the scheming and murderous Captain Levison. Life on the continent with Levison does not work out as she had envisaged so, eight years later, she returns to England and finds her husband has remarried. She cannot bear to be away from her family and so dons a disguise, gaining employment with them as a governess. When her young son, Willie, dies she is unable to comfort him as she would like, and she too dies.