Less Than Kin. 1909

Less Than Kin is a 1909 novel by Alice Duer Miller. It tells the story of a young woman named Alice who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents die. Alice is a bright and independent young woman, but she struggles to adjust to her new life. She finds her aunt and uncle to be cold and distant, and she feels like an outsider in their household.

Alice eventually falls in love with her cousin, Richard. Richard is a kind and gentle young man, and he is the only person in the household who seems to understand Alice. However, Richard is also engaged to another woman, and Alice knows that she can never be with him.

In the end, Alice decides to leave her aunt and uncle's house and start a new life for herself. She says goodbye to Richard and tells him that she will never forget him.

The novel is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who is struggling to find her place in the world. It is also a story about love, loss, and sacrifice.

Themes

Coming of age: Alice is a young woman who is still figuring out who she is and what she wants in life. She is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents die, and this experience forces her to grow up quickly.
Love: Alice falls in love with her cousin, Richard. However, their love is forbidden because Richard is engaged to another woman. This love triangle forces Alice to make some difficult choices.
Loss: Alice experiences a great deal of loss in the novel. She loses her parents, her innocence, and her first love. However, she also learns to cope with loss and to move on with her life.
Sacrifice: Alice makes a number of sacrifices in the novel. She gives up her dreams of love and marriage in order to be with Richard. She also gives up her home and her family in order to start a new life.

Critical reception

Less Than Kin was a critical and commercial success when it was first published. It was praised for its realistic portrayal of young womanhood and its sensitive exploration of themes such as love, loss, and sacrifice. The novel has been reprinted several times and is still read today.