John Halifax, Gentleman

Published in 1856, 'John Halifax, Gentleman' by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik is a first-person narrative that follows Phineas Fletcher, a sickly Quaker youth, as he recounts his friendship with John Halifax, a poor orphan who becomes a successful man. The novel explores themes of social class, friendship, and the moral complexities of wealth. It was a popular work in the Victorian era, notable for its vivid character portrayals and its influence on later literature about social mobility and personal integrity.