The Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic) 1867-1940 creator text utu 2014 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "The House of Defence, Vol. 1" by E. F. Benson is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative begins with a sense of urgency and concern as Lord Thurso and his sister, Lady Maud Raynham, arrive at their estate in Caithness to address a typhoid epidemic striking the nearby village. The story explores themes of family loyalty, duty, and the interplay between health and emotional well-being as the characters navigate their circumstances. At the start of the novel, Lady Maud waits for her brother to return from delivering aid to the villagers affected by the epidemic. The setting portrays a stark contrast between the tranquil yet exposed grandeur of their home and the grim reality of the healthcare crisis unfolding in the nearby village. As the narrative unfolds, we witness the siblings' dynamic, particularly how Maud's optimism serves to uplift her brother's spirits. The foundation is laid for interactions with other characters such as Bertie Cochrane, an American with compelling beliefs about healing that may challenge Maud's perspectives as the story progresses. The opening chapters establish an intimate portrait of Maud's inner world and set the stage for the exploration of themes of illness, responsibility, and the potential for healing. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2014-05-28 Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) Original publication data not identified England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction Christian Science -- Fiction Spiritual healing -- Fiction PR Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45800 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45800 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134042.0 45800