Fan's silken string

Annette Lyster

Summary

Annette Lyster's Fan's Silken String is a deftly woven work of juvenile historical fiction, set against the elegant yet constraining social world of an earlier age. The novel combines domestic detail, moral tension, and quiet adventure, tracing how seemingly fragile ties—suggested by the title's "silken string"—bind families, loyalties, and destinies. Lyster writes in a lucid, controlled prose characteristic of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century girls' literature, where refinement of feeling and ethical formation are inseparable from narrative suspense. The book belongs to that tradition of instructive storytelling that values courage, self-command, and affection without sacrificing narrative charm. Lyster was a prolific Irish-born writer for young readers whose fiction often reflects a deep familiarity with the educational and moral expectations placed upon children, especially girls, in her period. Writing for an audience shaped by Victorian and Edwardian ideals, she consistently brought together historical awareness, Christian ethics, and an interest in character formation. These concerns likely informed Fan's Silken String, in which emotional discipline and social responsibility emerge as central themes. This is a rewarding book for readers interested in classic children's literature, women's writing, and the moral imagination of the late Victorian world. It deserves attention not only as an engaging story, but also as a revealing cultural artifact of its literary moment.

Available since: 06/29/2026.

Print length: 90 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Girls of Central High on the...

Gertrude W. Morrison

The Girls of Central High on the Stage by Gertrude W. Morrison is a delightful classic school story that follows a lively group of young friends as they prepare for an exciting theatrical production. Filled with friendship, creativity, and the challenges of working toward a common goal, the novel celebrates teamwork, confidence, and the joy of self-expression.

As rehearsals progress, the girls encounter unexpected obstacles, personal challenges, and moments of uncertainty that test their determination and cooperation. Through hard work, encouragement, and mutual support, they discover valuable lessons about responsibility, perseverance, and the importance of believing in themselves and one another.

Gertrude W. Morrison's engaging storytelling brings early twentieth-century school life vividly to life with memorable characters, lighthearted humor, and heartwarming moments. Blending wholesome entertainment with themes of friendship, personal growth, and artistic achievement, the novel captures the excitement of preparing for a memorable performance while highlighting timeless values that continue to resonate with readers.

Perfect for readers who enjoy classic juvenile fiction, school stories, and coming-of-age adventures, The Girls of Central High on the Stage remains a charming tale of friendship, ambition, and creativity that continues to delight generations of readers.

Show book

The Divine Lady - A Romance of...

L. Adams Beck

Emma Hamilton from the blacksmith's daughter to Naples and Nelson, and the years after Trafalgar when the nation forgot its promise to look after her. Beck wrote it in 1924 and it was filmed with Corinne Griffith. This edition carries fifty-nine plates of paintings bound with the text, among them works by John Crome, Edvard Munch and Peter Monamy, alongside a restored and coloured illustration.

Show book

The Home - or Life in Sweden

Fredrika Bremer

A Swedish household through a year - the daughters, the suitors, the servants and the father who cannot let go. Bremer's domestic novels were read across Europe and America, and she went on to write one of the first arguments for women's rights in Swedish. This edition carries Mary Howitt's translation and sixty plates of Swedish painting, among them works by Carl Larsson, Anders Zorn and Amalia Lindegren.

Show book

Not Good Enough - A Simon Iff...

Aleister Crowley

Edward Alexander Crowley was born on 12th October 1875 to wealthy parents in Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

He was educated at Malvern College, Tonbridge School, Eastbourne College and finally Trinity College, Cambridge where he focused on his passions of mountaineering and poetry and published several volumes.

Life for Crowley was to abandon his parents’ Christian faith and instead to inject himself into Western esotericism. In 1898, he joined the esoteric Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and was trained in ceremonial magic before studying both Hindu and Buddhist practices in India.

On his Egyptian honeymoon in 1904 he claimed contact with an entity―Aiwass―who gave him the sacred Book of the Law which served as the basis for the Thelema religion where he identified as its prophet. During the Great War, which he spent in the United States, he claimed to be working for British Intelligence but by the 1920s he had decamped to pursue a libertine lifestyle in Sicily, and in the ensuing scandals was evicted by the Italian Government.

He divided the following two decades between France, Germany, and England, and the continuing promotion of Thelema.

During his life he gained widespread notoriety for his drug use, his bisexuality, and his alarming views on society. In short, polite society frowned on his ways, his thoughts and his influence but to many others his stance had much of value. Even after death he was a darling for the 60’s counterculture but his influence has since waned.

His literary works were both prolific and covered many topics. In the early part of his career he published many poetry books, even plays, before his darker and more forceful works came to dominate his output.

Aleister Crowley died on 1st December 1947 at Hastings in England. He was 72.

Show book

The Rival Pitchers

Lester Chadwick

The Rival Pitchers by Lester Chadwick is a classic sports adventure that captures the excitement, determination, and competitive spirit of America's favorite pastime. Centered on talented young athletes striving to prove themselves both on and off the field, the novel delivers an inspiring story of ambition, teamwork, and personal growth.

As competition intensifies, friendships are tested, rivalries deepen, and every game presents new opportunities to demonstrate skill, discipline, and perseverance. Through victories, setbacks, and hard-earned lessons, the characters discover that true success is measured not only by athletic achievement but also by integrity, sportsmanship, and respect for others.

Lester Chadwick's engaging storytelling brings the energy of early twentieth-century athletics to life with memorable characters, exciting game action, and timeless themes that continue to resonate with readers. Blending suspense, humor, and wholesome values, this enduring classic celebrates dedication, fair play, and the enduring rewards of hard work.

Perfect for readers who enjoy classic sports fiction, coming-of-age adventures, and stories that highlight friendship, determination, and athletic competition, The Rival Pitchers remains a timeless tale that inspires readers to pursue excellence with courage, character, and unwavering commitment.

Show book

First Love and The Torrents of...

Ivan Turgenev

Two novellas, written twelve years apart, about the same wound. In First Love (1860) a boy of sixteen worships a girl of twenty-one and discovers who her lover is; in The Torrents of Spring (1872) a young man in Frankfurt is engaged by noon, and by the end of the week has been taken from his fiancée by a woman who wants him only because he is spoken for. Turgenev said the first was the only story he had not invented. Four shorter pieces follow First Love here, among them A Correspondence, told in letters, and The Dog; Mumu, the story of a deaf-mute serf and his dog that Turgenev wrote under arrest in 1852, closes the book. Ninety-eight plates of landscape and travel painting, from Lake Tahoe to the Wetterhorn, set beside Turgenev's restless young men.

Show book