Norman Vallery

Norman Vallery; or, How to Overcome Evil With Good *Norman Vallery*, by W. H. G. Kingston, is a moral tale featuring siblings Fanny and Norman Vallery. Fanny, a gentle, obedient girl raised by her grandmother near London, eagerly awaits the arrival of her parents from India and her younger brother Norman. The narrative follows Norman's violent, undisciplined temperament—he was indulged by his father to have complete liberty "to develop his character." Upon arrival, Norman demonstrates destructive behavior: he strikes servants with his whip, lashes the family dog Trusty, and releases the family hen. The opening chapters establish his willfulness against Fanny's patient kindness. Subsequent chapters involve fishing lessons, a sailor's story, and the acquisition of a pet bird named Pecksy, which Norman ultimately kills in a fit of anger. The work documents Norman's gradual moral reformation through Fanny's steadfast compassion and forgiveness, culminating in repentance and reconciliation, as suggested by the title's promise to overcome evil with good.