A tragic affair blooms between a working-class orphan and a wealthy rake in this classic novel of Victorian England.Although Ruth Hilton is kind, life does not treat her kindly in return. An orphaned young seamstress, she works long hours at a sweatshop in a small English town. When she is sent to a fancy ball to repair the ladies'' dresses, she catches the eye of a gentleman, Henry Bellingham. Falling for Henry leads to the loss of her job and her home, and Ruth quickly finds herself raising a child alone. Overcome with grief and shame, she must now make her way in a world where society has turned its back on her and all she can rely on is hope. A moving novel from the author of North and South and Mary Barton, Ruth offers a unique look at British life during the mid-nineteenth century.
