Albatross

Takes place in contemporary times, using modern tools like laptops and copy shops to propel Emelia’s writing journey. The events unfold over several months as relationships evolve and secrets come to light. The era’s social mores shape the characters’ choices and the consequences that follow.

The story largely revolves around a seaside hotel owned by Jonathan Fischer, where Emelia works as a cleaner and the attic doubles as a private writing space. The coastal setting provides a backdrop of storms and secrecy as personal relationships unfold within the hotel. Oxford appears as a pivotal destination later in the plot, highlighting the contrast between the hotel’s intimate world and the academic ambitions of Beth.

🪶 Identity

Emelia grapples with a legendary lineage she feels pressured to live up to. The idea of being descended from Arthur Conan Doyle becomes an albatross that she must redefine on her own terms. A grandfather’s revelation that the Conan Doyle link may be a fabrication pushes her to find her authentic voice. The theme follows her journey from inherited expectations toward self-made identity and creative independence.

⚖️ Power

The relationship between Emelia and Jonathan exposes imbalances of influence, desire, and control. Jonathan’s creative stagnation contrasts with Emelia’s ambition, driving a morally fraught affair with cascading consequences. The tension tests loyalty, boundaries, and accountability within a fragile family structure. The narrative uses this dynamic to explore how power shapes personal and artistic choices.

👪 Family

Family ties are strained by infidelity, parental neglect, and the trauma of a mother’s suicide that shadows Emelia’s past. Joa’s protective, sharp-edged stance clashes with the fragility of her marriage and the children’s futures. Beth’s independence and the revelation about the Conan Doyle legacy force the family to confront secrets and redefine belonging. The resolution repositions what family means when legacies are challenged and repaired.