Darkness and Daylight: A Novel

Darkness and Daylight is a sentimental novel that revolves around the life of the protagonist Jane Elton. The story traces Jane''s journey from a humble and difficult childhood to adulthood where she faces various challenges and moral dilemmas. Throughout the novel Jane strives to live a virtuous life despite the hardships and temptations she encounters. The title of the novel reflects its central theme with darkness symbolizing the challenges and trials that Jane faces and daylight representing her pursuit of a virtuous and upright life. Darkness and Daylight is characteristic of the moralistic and didactic literature of the 19th century where the characters'' actions and choices are often used to convey moral lessons and ideals. It was popular among readers of its time and is an example of the kind of literature that appealed to Victorian-era sensibilities. Although Mrs. Mary J. Holmes'' works may not be as widely read today as they were in the 19th century Darkness and Daylight remains a notable example of the sentimental and moralistic literature that was popular during that era.