The Debtor: A Novel

The Debtor, a novel by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman published in 1905, is set in the small village of Banbridge, New Jersey. It explores the lives of its residents, particularly the socially conscious women who navigate the complexities of propriety and class. The story begins with Mrs. Henry Lee and Mrs. William Van Dorn making social calls, leading to humorous mishaps that reveal the tensions between social expectations and human behavior. The novel addresses themes of social class, wealth, and the intricacies of human interaction in early 20th-century America.