Hollybeck is set in the early 1900s, and is a story about how two friends, Emma Watkins and Trudy Spence, take unexpected paths in their lives. Both girls start from similar working class conditions, but, whereas, Emma flourishes, Trudy has a mental breakdown due to being raped and becoming pregnant, and she is institutionalized. The book also tells of the intermingling of rich and poor, between those living upstairs and those living downstairs in the Hollybeck House. The story reflects various aspects of humanity including its struggles, pains, and triumphs, and shows how Trudy Spence's loved ones deal with her declining health and mental illness.
