Under False Pretences: A Novel

Under False Pretences is a novel by Adeline Sergeant, first published in 1889. The story follows Edward and Margaret Luttrell, who relocate to a villa in Italy with their children. Their lives are turned upside down when Margaret, suffering from a fever, mistakes her newborn for the illegitimate child of their nurse, Vincenza, leading to a profound exploration of identity, motherhood, and familial bonds amidst the chaos of mistaken identity.