What if time is an illusion and one can remain adorned with their youthful beauty forever? Certainly this thought has a particular appeal to lovers, who, united in pure passion and eternal ardor, would no longer be bound by the passage of time. In his novel titled 24 hours in the life of Isabel Authors Theresa Austin and Jeanne Marie Peters challenge the assumption that age and the natural decline of body and mind are necessary evils in the world.
The heroine of the story, Elizabeth Wells, has received a very cruel hand from fate. Her father, Arthur Wells, a prominent London lawyer, has kidnapped her fiancée; arguing that the would-be theologian is unfit (and financially unprofitable) for his daughter. Arthur, a devious man who shows no genuine love for Elizabeth, wants his daughter to marry someone with more money and social status. Fearing that Elizabeth and John Law were planning to elope, this cunning werefox kidnapped, or perhaps even killed, his daughter’s lover, leaving the unfortunate lady deprived of her best friend and spiritual confidante.
Fortunately, the heavenly-minded Elizabeth hasn’t been left completely without comfort. On the contrary, believing that her lover is still alive (and that he is being held captive in some hidden place), she ardently anticipates John’s return during her regular midnight watches; at which point she puts on her wedding dress and stands guard at her window, awaiting the fulfillment of her prayers (and her promised marriage). In this way, she not only retains hope of a reunion with her fiancée, but she also manages to stay young in both mind and body.
24 hours in the life of Isabel is based on a story that appeared in the London medical journal, the lancet, In the nineteen century. According to author Jeanne Peters, the article told of “an English girl abandoned by her lover who went mad and lost track of time; and when American travelers saw her at the age of 74, they guessed she was less than 20.” . In the novel, Elizabeth finds the fountain of eternal youth by balancing herself in the fervent expectation of the return of her lover. By “holding onto timelessness to await John’s arrival,” the heroine, like the woman described in the lancetseems eternal throughout his life.
Elizabeth is considered eccentric, and even crazy, by those who cannot understand her unorthodox religious views. However, those who are willing to listen to her theological exposition of Scripture are convinced that not only is she sane, but perhaps she is also a spiritual genius. These individuals see her midnight watches as simply an outward manifestation of a deep spiritual perspective. More importantly, her interpretation of Jesus’ teachings (and her spiritual exercises) fill her with empathy for other people; giving her a religious fervor which, in turn, inspires her friends and family to join her on a mission to alleviate the suffering of London’s poor and downtrodden.
Within the framework of the story of Elizabeth Wells, the authors intertwine various auxiliary plots and subplots. For example, in the course of the narrative, the authors recount the sordid family history of the Wells family; a backstory that provides context for Arthur Wells’ cruelty and devious behavior. In addition, we are introduced to a collection of characters (each representing and defending different points of view), who struggle with each other and the world, afflict themselves and their servants, and fall in and out of love. Some of them even follow Elizabeth’s noble example and dedicate their lives to bettering the lot of the underprivileged. Through the complex relationships and dialogic exchanges of these characters, the novel addresses many of the social ills that characterized 19th century England and the United States.
Ostensibly a kind of spiritual parable, 24 hours in the life of Isabel is a metaphysical story that contains elements of romance, mystery, friendship, and betrayal. Similar in style and tone to the traditional Victorian novel, the thoughtful examination of the circumstances that lead people to act in certain ways, both for better and for worse, instills a feeling of companionship in the reader. This work was a joy to read and a true inspiration. I look forward to the sequel which promises to answer many of the questions raised in the first part of the novel series.