Terry Kelleher is Professor Emerita of Asian Studies at Manhattanville College, New York. Since retiring eight years ago, Terry has enjoyed reading Western literature, catching up on books she missed during her teaching years. She participates in several book clubs that meet on Zoom and hopes to start a club focused on reading classics from China and Japan. Terry is a member of the Trollope Society and a regular participant in the Big Read.

Rachel Ray is a domestic novel set in a small Devon town, focusing on the emotional and moral struggles of a young woman whose prospects of happiness are clouded by family pressure and religious intolerance. When Rachel meets Luke Rowan, a spirited young man with unclear intentions, she must navigate conflicting advice from her kindly mother and her strict Evangelical sister. The novel offers a sharp critique of religious hypocrisy and the limits placed on women’s independence, while providing a tender portrait of love, reputation, and small-town life.

Rachel Ray was originally published as a two volume novel in London, Chapman and Hall, 1863.

Resources

• Plot summary and character listing for Rachel Ray
• Download Rachel Ray free of charge from Project Gutenberg
• Explore our Reading Guide for Rachel Ray