The Head of the House of Coombe facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Frances Hodgson Burnett |
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| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Cornell University Library |
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Publication date
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1922 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 396 p. (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | 978-1-112-28770-1 (2009 Cornell University Library paperback edition) |
| OCLC | N/A |
| N/A | |
| LC Class | N/A |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Followed by | Robin (novel) |
The Head of the House of Coombe is a novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in 1922. This story explores the lives and relationships of different people in England just before World War One. The book also shares the author's thoughts on society and how people behaved in Europe during that time.
The Sequel
Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote a second book that continues this story. The sequel, titled Robin, was also published in 1922. It finishes the adventures of the characters Robin, Lord Coombe, Donal, and Feather.
What's the Story About?
The main character, Lord Coombe, is known for being very well-dressed in London. He is also a very smart person, but many people think he has a bad reputation. One day, he meets a young woman named Feather. She is very pretty but also quite selfish. Lord Coombe becomes interested in her life. When Feather's husband passes away, Lord Coombe decides to help her.
Robin's Early Life
Feather has a daughter named Robin, but she does not pay much attention to her. Feather often neglects Robin. When Lord Coombe starts helping with the household money, Feather leaves Robin to be cared for by her nurse. For the first six years of her life, Robin does not even know Feather is her mother. She calls her "The Lady Downstairs."
Robin does not like Lord Coombe. She heard a conversation that made her believe he was responsible for her first friend leaving. This friend was a boy named Donal, who was actually Lord Coombe's heir. Donal's mother did not approve of Lord Coombe or Feather. When she found out Donal was playing with Robin, she took him away. This made Robin very sad.
Even though Robin dislikes him, Lord Coombe secretly acts as her guardian. As Robin grows up, he makes sure she has comfortable rooms and a kind nurse. He also arranges for a good governess to teach her. Meanwhile, Robin's mother, Feather, continues to act in a very selfish and irresponsible way.
Challenges and New Friends
As Robin grows older, she becomes a lovely and smart young woman. She is also very innocent. Feather's group of friends includes some people who are not very good. One of them, a nobleman from Germany, tries to take advantage of Robin. He tries to trick her by using her wish to become independent. He attempts to lead her into a difficult and unsafe situation.
Lord Coombe's actions help to stop this bad plan. However, Robin is still very upset by what happened. Lord Coombe has a close friend, a wise Duchess, who recently lost her companion. After Robin's difficult experience, Lord Coombe suggests that Robin could be a good new companion for the Duchess.
The Duchess is the only person who knows why Lord Coombe cares so much about Robin. She also knows why he puts up with Feather's behavior. This secret is shared with the reader during a conversation between Lord Coombe and the Duchess. The Duchess welcomes Robin into her home and they become good friends. Robin meets the Duchess's children and their friends. The Duchess even hosts a small dance for Robin. At this dance, Robin meets Donal again. At the same time, Lord Coombe and the Duchess learn about an important event in history: an Austrian Archduke was assassinated in Serbia. This event was a major cause of World War One.
