First published in 1853, "The Heir of Redclyffe" is original and powerful; it was the bestseller of the 19th century, and it deserved to be. The protagonist, Guy Morville, has a dark side to his nature -- but he is a man who tries to do what's right, not a villain. On the other hand, in his way his seemingly righteous cousin, Philip, is a sanctimonious, covetous scoundrel: ultimately he hounds his cousin to his death, leaving his gentle wife, Amy, a widow.