The Governor’s Son Giveaway!

Published on by Isabella Alden

Before Isabella published a new novel, she often shared the story in chapter-by-chapter installments in magazines. One example is her novel Christie’s Christmas. Before it was published in 1885, part of it appeared in The Pansy magazine under the title “Christie at Home.” Then the magazine’s publisher advertised the story in newspapers across the country:

Newspaper clipping: An everyday and Sunday visitor and friend in your home. In the first place: There is the new cover, dainty and sweet from top to bottom, an index to the fresh, attractive interior. Second: Mrs. G. R. Alden ("Pansy") has written a new serial entitled "CHRISTIE AT HOME," one of her invigorating, strong efforts towards making true men and women of the boys and girls of to-day, and the boys' and girls' fathers and mothers. As fascinating as all her books, is this latest story.
From The Perry County Democrat (Pennsylvania) newspaper, November 5, 1884.

When Isabella’s niece, Grace Livingston Hill began her writing career, she followed suit. Several of her short stories and novels first appeared as serials in magazines before the complete story was published in book form.

In 1905 Grace’s novella The Governor’s Son was published as a serial in a Christian magazine. Then, in 1909, the same story appeared as a serial in a British magazine. Both publications included lovely pen and pencil illustrations of some of the story’s key scenes.

The Governor’s Son is about a young woman named Leslie who spends the summer with her sister and cousin at a seaside resort. Here’s one of the magazine illustrations showing Leslie befriending an elderly woman while on the train to the resort, as her sister and cousin look on.

Illustration of the interior of a train. An elderly woman sits on a bench as a young woman stands beside her in the aisle, offering her a cup of water. Two young ladies are seated behind the elderly woman, watching. In the background another passenger reads a newspaper.

That small act of kindness earns Leslie a new friend, and she and the elderly woman spend quite a bit of time together on the seashore.

Illustration of a young woman in white sitting beside an elderly woman on the beach as they sit under an umbrella near a formation of rocks. The young woman is reading a book. In the background a fisherman tends to his row boat and sailboats sail on the ocean.

The Governor’s Son was never published in book form, but all the complete magazine issues survived, so the story could be pieced together; and it’s now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

The Giveaway:

We’re giving away five e-book copies of The Governor’s Son by Grace Livingston Hill!

Book cover showing a young woman in a long white dress, holding a sun bonnet in her hand, standing at the steps of a piazza as she looks out to sea.

Shy, lovely Leslie Graham would rather spend her summer at home reading a book, but her parents insist she accompany her sister Anna to a seaside resort, where the sisters’ differences quickly come to light. While Anna tries to mingle with the resort’s most fashionable and wealthy inhabitants, Leslie makes friends with sweet, elderly Mrs. Hamilton, who likes to watch the ocean, quote Bible verses, and talk about her son. And when Mrs. Hamilton’s son arrives, Leslie realizes Chauncey Hamilton is just as thoughtful and handsome as his mother described. In the face of such kindness, Leslie can’t help but prefer to spend her days and nights with Chauncey and his mother, even as Anna plots to pull her in a more worldly and dangerous direction.

To enter the drawing, just leave a comment below or on Isabella’s Facebook page no later than midnight (EDT) on Thursday, September 14.

The five winners will be announced on Friday, September 15. Good luck!

If you love Grace Livingston Hill stories and can’t wait until Friday to read The Governor’s Son, you can purchase your copy of the novella by clicking here.

Remember: You don’t have to own an Amazon Kindle to read The Governor’s Son. Just download Amazon’s e-reader app to read the story on any electronic device.

This post is part of our 10-Year Blogiversary Celebration! Join us every weekday in September for a fun drawing, giveaway, or Free Read!

21 thoughts on “The Governor’s Son Giveaway!”

  3. Grace Livingston Hill is one of my favorite authors, and I didn’t know about this novella! It amazes me how many women in that family were not only authors, but Christian authors.

    Reply

  5. Isabella Alden’s books never fail to inspire and challenge us to walk with God. I can’t wait to read this book.

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  8. Sounds like a charming book! Being humble is definitely the better way to go always. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

    Reply

  13. Ooh, I’ve never heard of this story before! Love the illustrations! I’m always wishing to win an Isabella Alden book, I can’t get enough of her writing.

    Reply

  14. I have been reading Mrs. Alden’s books for years now and had no idea this blog existed until today. I was talking with a friend about listening to her books on Libervox this week (I’m sick in bed) and got to thinking about some of back story to one of them, so I decided to do a search and found your site.

    The books you are giving away sound lovely. My mother used to be a huge fan of Grace L. Hill and I remember loads of her books on our shelves when I was a girl. I’m not sure why I never read any of them, especially since I have enjoyed Isabella’s so much. But I must admit to having never read any of her books.

    Take care,
    Trish

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you found us, Trish! I first read Grace’s books in high school and enjoyed them; but I never re-read any of them again until after I discovered Isabella’s books. They had such a profound impact on me that I went back and read Grace’s books again (and anything I could find that was written by this talented family). I’ve posted a few of Grace’s early short stories, if you’d like to try them. You can find them by clicking on the Free Read tab above. —Jenny

      Reply

  15. This looks like a wonderful story! Please don’t enter me in the giveaway because I am not able to read digital books. But I do want to ask a question. Will this be available in paperback at some point?

    Reply

  17. I would sure love to buy this. Is there any chance it will become available for purchase either through Kobo, or directly from you? I know Amazon dominates the market, but there are still many people who use other readers.

    Reply

    1. Christine, you’ve asked a very good (and very timely) question! In the past few years online booksellers like Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple have all implemented stricter rules for publishing public domain books like The Governor’s Son. A little over a year ago, Kobo stopped accepting any public domain books at all. I’ve been exploring other ways to make these wonderful old books available, including the possibility of setting up a store so readers have the option to buy directly from this website. I hope to announce a workable solution soon! —Jenny

      Reply

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