Release date is 2025-05-20

Al Haines

"Oakleigh" by Ellen Douglas Deland is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set in a Massachusetts household, it follows the Franklin children—earnest Edith, spirited Cynthia, enterprising Jack, and the younger Janet and Willy—as they cope with loss, responsibility, and the upheaval of their father’s remarriage to Hester Gordon. Domestic comedy, small-town social life, and youthful schemes (notably Jack’s poultry-incubator enterprise) shape a warm, gently humorous family story. The opening of Oakleigh introduces the Franklins’ home and rhythms: motherless Edith manages the house, while twins Jack and Cynthia debate Jack’s plan to raise prize chickens with an incubator. Aunt Betsey Trinkett breezes in, funds the scheme, and unwittingly inspires Cynthia’s prank—an impersonation that leads to a gossip-fueled revelation that Mr. Franklin is likely to remarry. A disastrous meddling by the little ones ruins the first hatch, and Mr. Franklin confirms his engagement to Hester Gordon. The marriage soon follows; Cynthia embraces the kind new stepmother while Edith resists, even as Hester brings practical help (a new horse and cart) and cheer. A village tennis tournament, the arrival of Hester’s outspoken brother Neal, and his partnership with Jack on the poultry venture set the stage for family adjustments and future complications. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1895