[1] The novel begins in the 1790s in the coastal town of Monkshaven (modeled on Whitby, England)[1] against the background of the practice of impressment during the early phases of the Napoleonic Wars.

17 year-old Sylvia Robson lives happily with her parents on a farm, and is passionately loved by her rather dull Quaker cousin Philip.

This act is primarily prompted out of gratefulness for Philip's assistance during a difficult time following her father's imprisonment and subsequent execution for leading a revengeful raid on press-gang collaborators.

For instance, detailed attention is given to Sylvia's growing infatuation with Kinraid, but her eventual disillusionment with him following his hasty marriage at the end of the story is described in only a few sentences.

TJW, in an article in the Modern Language Review,[3] comments that 'Kinraid is eventually shown to be a shallow character, but Mrs Gaskell's portrayal of him is so superficial that we find it hard to appreciate the strength of Sylvia Robson's love for him'.