Ancestors: A Novel

Published in 1907, 'Ancestors' is a novel by Gertrude Atherton that follows Flora, the daughter of a clergyman, who navigates her social status after her father's sudden death. As she faces the threat of poverty and the need to earn a living, she becomes a companion to Lady Victoria Gwynne and encounters an American cousin seeking to trace their family lineage. The novel explores themes of class distinction and the complexities of identity in early 20th-century society.