Lodore

The romance novel Lodore--said to be the "most Austen-like" of Mary Shelley's works--is one of the first four of a series of re-found treasures that changed the landscape or boundaries of genre fiction, repackaged with stunning new cover designs.
Lord Lodore, estranged from his wife, has exiled himself and his devoted daughter, Ethel, to Illinois. Lodore considers reuniting with his wife but is killed in a duel hours before departing for England. The only extant will is one recorded years ago when he vindictively made Lady Lodore's inheritance dependent on her never seeing Ethel again. Ethel returns to England to live with Lodore's sister, where Ethel is wooed by an older gentleman, Edward Villiers. Their love is threatened because Edward is in reduced financial circumstances owing to the irresponsibility of his evil father. Much suffering ensues, during which Edward and Ethel endeavor to straighten out priorities: Which is more important, love or money?