The Side Of The Angels: A Novel

In Short

This novel is a study of moral evolution, contrasting the static, traditional life of a farming family against the upwardly mobile, cold-hearted ambitions of their wealthy neighbors. Set in the early 20th century, the story traces the emotional and ethical fallout when these two worlds collide through a secret romance. It remains a resonant piece of literature because it grapples with the timeless struggle to reconcile personal desire with the demands of conscience, exploring whether it is possible to find redemption through "good will" when traditional paths to happiness seem to have failed.

The Story

The narrative centers on the Masterman family, prominent and wealthy, and the Fays, a family of once-equal status who have fallen into near-poverty. Thorley Masterman, a physician, finds himself captivated by Rosie Fay, whose beauty stands out in stark relief against her family’s ruin. However, Thor’s younger brother, Claude, acts as a disruptive, shadow-like figure. Claude initiates a clandestine affair with Rosie, driven by a volatile mix of attraction and social vanity, while remaining callously indifferent to the consequences for her or her family, which includes a father facing eviction and a son currently in jail.

Thor, feeling a misplaced sense of duty, tries to intercede, but his interference only deepens the complexity. He soon finds himself caught between his feelings for Rosie and a burgeoning, more spiritual connection with Lois, a woman who offers him stability and guidance. As the conflict intensifies, Rosie realizes that she has been a pawn in a game she cannot win. After a crushing realization that Claude’s "love" is fleeting and that her dream of marrying into wealth is a mirage, she reaches a point of total despair. She eventually withdraws from the world, renouncing both her desires and the men who have toyed with them.

The tension reaches a breaking point when the Masterman patriarch, Archie, moves to protect the family’s social standing by orchestrating a move abroad to escape the scandal. Meanwhile, Claude continues to wrestle with a "demon" within himself, insisting that he is a gentleman despite his actions. His efforts to "fix" the situation—driven more by a need to appease his own ego than to rectify his cruelty—lead to a final, violent confrontation with Thor. The brothers, long at odds, are forced to face the wreckage of their choices. In the aftermath, Claude, physically and emotionally broken, faces a somber end. The story concludes with Thor and Lois standing together in the snow. Thor, having moved past the "frenzy" of his earlier infatuation, finds in Lois a "shelter." He accepts his past failures and commits to a new, internal way of living, viewing his future with her as a "home" he has finally reached through the trial of his own soul.

How It Unfolds

The social divide The story opens by contrasting the Masterman and Fay families, noting how shifting economic fortunes have turned former peers into master and servant. Thor Masterman catches a glimpse of the beautiful Rosie Fay, sparking a curiosity that quickly shifts into concern for her precarious situation.

The secret romance Claude enters the scene, engaging in a secret, reckless courtship of Rosie that promises her an escape from poverty. Rosie, though terrified, clings to the hope that Claude represents her only path to a stable, secure future.

The intervention Thor attempts to navigate the situation through his professional connection to the Fays, but he only succeeds in alienating those he aims to help. As he struggles with his own heart, he turns to Lois, who begins to anchor his erratic impulses.

The collapse of illusion Rosie’s hope evaporates when she realizes Claude is incapable of real commitment. She experiences a profound psychological break, feeling as though she has "died" and "woken up" from a dream, leading her to renounce her former life.

The moral reckoning The Masterman family attempts to flee the consequences of their actions, but they cannot outrun their own internal discord. The final confrontation between the brothers forces Thor to stop "interfering" and start examining his own soul, leading him to a quiet, hard-won peace with Lois.

The People

Thorley Masterman is a thoughtful, if occasionally clumsy, physician who seeks to do the right thing but is often blinded by his own impulses. He matures from a man driven by external "interfering" into one seeking internal integrity.

Claude Masterman is the novel’s tragic, narcissistic foil. He views himself as a gentleman, yet his inability to feel genuine empathy or take responsibility for his actions leaves him isolated and destructive.

Rosie Fay is the emotional heart of the tragedy. She is initially practical, hoping to use her beauty to secure a future, but she ultimately suffers the most as her illusions are stripped away, leading her to a state of hollow resignation.

Lois is the moral anchor of the story. She possesses a "spiritual" grace that allows her to look past surface-level judgments. She does not demand Thor’s perfection; instead, she guides him toward a higher understanding of "good will" and personal accountability.

Archie Masterman acts as the cold, pragmatic head of the Masterman household, whose primary interest is shielding the family from the "scandal" of his sons' interactions with the lower-class Fays.

In Its Own Voice

"It was across the wreck of those chances, and across some other obstacles besides, that Thorley Masterman, for the first time since childhood, looked into the gray-green eyes of Rosie Fay and got the thrill of their wide-open, earnest beauty."

Thor’s initial, fateful attraction to Rosie is described as he observes the decay of the Fay family's fortunes.

"In desiring her as his wife he was, as it were, fleeing to a refuge."

The narrator reveals Thor’s true motivation in choosing Lois, showing how he views her as a necessary harbor from his own tumultuous emotions.

"The mission of Christ, me dear Mrs. Thor, was salvation. And what do we mean by salvation? Isn't it the state of being saved?"

Lois finds comfort in this perspective from Reuben Hilary, which helps her reconcile her own need for mercy with the harsh realities of the world.

What It's Really About

The book explores the conflict between individual desire and moral responsibility in a changing society. It questions whether the "Christian method" of good will can actually function in a world governed by social strata and economic inequality. The underlying argument suggests that external, "middle-management" solutions to poverty and suffering are futile; true progress, the narrative contends, can only occur when individuals commit to working "from the inside." The characters are perpetually tested to see if they can move beyond superficial roles—like the "gentleman" or the "savior"—to achieve a genuine, conscious association with a higher, spiritual energy, which the author posits as the only true path to healing a broken soul.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate early 20th-century psychological realism will find much to admire here. The prose is elegant and measured, and the book’s exploration of the "demon" within—the internal drive that forces a person to act against their own best interests—feels remarkably modern. It captures the tension of a world in flux, where old class structures are crumbling, leaving individuals to define their own worth.

However, the book is not without its difficulties. The dialogue occasionally lapses into heavy, dated dialect that may feel slow to a modern reader. Additionally, the period attitudes toward poverty and social class are frequently frustrating; the characters often discuss "the poor" as a monolithic, tragic curiosity rather than as neighbors. The pacing is also deliberate, favoring long, introspective conversations over quick action. Despite these hurdles, the book remains a poignant portrait of a man trying to find his way to "home" while burdened by the weight of his own errors. It is a quiet, contemplative read that lingers, specifically because of its refusal to offer easy, happy endings. It invites you to consider the "secret" of living well, even when the world—and one’s own heart—proves to be an unreliable map.