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Cover of A Very Naughty Girl

A Very Naughty Girl

Written by L. T. Meade

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CousinsTeenage girlsCastlesAustraliansHeiresses

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About this book

"A Very Naughty Girl" by L. T. Meade is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds at Wynford Castle, depicting the lives of two young girls, Audrey Wynford and her cousin Evelyn, who arrives from Tasmania to claim her inheritance. The book explores themes of social class, childhood innocence, and the clash of old customs with new expectations. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Audrey, who is frustrated by her family’s tradition of hosting open-house New Year’s festivities, attracting all sorts of visitors. She dreads the arrival of her cousin Evelyn, who is the heiress to Wynford Castle. As the narrative progresses, Evelyn's arrival brings both excitement and a sense of unease. Told through the eyes of both girls, the opening chapters outline Audrey’s disdain for the customs and her scrutiny of the strange town girl Sylvia Leeson, whom Evelyn befriends. The contrast between Audrey's high upbringing and Evelyn's more carefree nature sets the stage for interpersonal conflicts that are likely to develop as the story unfolds.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in A Very Naughty Girl, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • historical
  • social drama
  • coming-of-age

L. T. Meade's "A Very Naughty Girl" is a late 19th-century novel set at the ancestral Wynford Castle, exploring the intricate dynamics between two young cousins. The story centers on Audrey Wynford, who resents her family's antiquated New Year's traditions and the impending arrival of her Tasmanian cousin, Evelyn, the true heiress to the estate. Evelyn's more uninhibited nature and her unexpected friendship with the 'town girl' Sylvia Leeson immediately create tension and challenge Audrey's ingrained sense of social order. Through the alternating perspectives of both girls, the narrative delves into themes of social class, the clash between tradition and modern sensibilities, and the complex journey of childhood innocence navigating a world of expectations and inheritance.

“*Inferred*: "The New Year's festivities were nothing but a yearly torment, a parade of strangers trampling over our ancient halls, utterly devoid of true Wynford dignity."”

Key themes

Social Class and Hierarchy
The novel deeply explores the rigid social hierarchy of late 19th-century England, particularly as it manifests within an aristocratic family and its interactions with those of lower status. It examines the expectations, prejudices, and inherent snobbery associated with inherited wealth and position, contrasting it with the perceived lack of refinement in 'town girls' like Sylvia Leeson. The theme questions whether true worth lies in birthright or character.
Tradition vs. Modernity
This theme examines the conflict between established, often antiquated, family customs and the emergence of new perspectives and expectations. Audrey represents the staunch adherence to tradition, while Evelyn, with her Tasmanian background, embodies a more modern, less constrained approach to life and social interaction. The novel explores the friction that arises when these two worldviews collide.
Childhood Innocence and Experience
The novel portrays the delicate balance of childhood innocence as it is confronted and shaped by the realities of social expectations, family duty, and complex interpersonal relationships. Both Audrey and Evelyn, though young, are forced to grapple with adult concepts like inheritance, social standing, and personal responsibility, leading to a loss of naive innocence and a gaining of experience.

Worth discussing

How do Audrey's initial frustrations with the New Year's festivities reflect her broader character and social conditioning?

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