App Store

Google Play

Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

Isabella Alden (Pansy)

Ester Ried is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and the first in her “Ester Ried” series. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Ester Ried's life is a dull monotony of toiling at her family's boardinghouse. Her days are spent cooking and cleaning for the people living at her family’s boarding house. She's overworked, jealous and cranky, a poor example of a Christian to her family and associates. 

Ester hates her life, but then a letter arrived from a well-to-do cousin in New York City—and things begin to happen. Ester is invited for a visit, and when she accepts, she has no idea that the coming days will change her life in ways she had never imagined. 
Ester Ried was first published in 1870. Next book in series: Julia Ried. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 7 hours, 28 min. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.

Tricia G

Ambient Light - Christian Fiction Classics

The Ester Ried series

Ester Ried

Julia Ried is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and is the second novel in her “Ester Ried” series. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sequel to Ester Ried.

Julia Ried is only sixteen years old when she must take a job as a bookkeeper in a factory to earn a living. The mistress of her boardinghouse influences her in a negative way, drawing her into a life and attitude displeasing to God. 

But a new acquaintance draws Julia into a whole new life - a world of fashionable frolics and seductive snobbery. Even tragedy and heartbreak are not enough to cut through the pride and bitterness that almost takes over Julia's young heart. But God has not given up on her―and neither has the man he has chosen for her to marry…

Julia Ried was first published in 1872. Previous book in the series: Ester Ried. Next book in the series: The King’s Daughter. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 7 hours, 46 min. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.

Julia Ried

The King's Daughter is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and is the third novel in her “Ester Ried” series. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sequel to Julia Ried.

Miss Dell Bronson has been raised in Boston by her refined uncle and aunt until at age 18, she is called home to the little town where she was born, by her father, a coarse tavern owner in Lewiston. As a daughter of the heavenly King, she strives to honor her heavenly Father by wooing her earthly father to Christ and away from rum. Her efforts to do the Lord’s work soon has the whole town talking, waking the interest from an unexpected suitor…

The King’s Daughter was first published in 1873. Previous book in the series: Julia Ried. Next book in the series: Wise and Otherwise. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 6 hours. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.

The King's Daughter

Wise and Otherwise is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and is the fourth novel in her “Ester Ried” series. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sequel to The King’s Daughter.

Young Abbie Ried Sayles and her dear friend, Dell Bronson expected life in turn-of-the-century Newton to be sweet and simple. 

In Wise and Otherwise we meet the immature Mr. Tresevant (from "The King's Daughter") who comes to Newton with his spoiled wife to be the new pastor of the church attended by Dr. and Mrs. Douglass, Mr. and Mrs. Sayles, and Mr. and Mrs. Tyndall (from "Ester Ried" and "Julia Ried"), boarding with Jerome and Abbie Sayles.

But life can be complicated in a social system where privileged ladies were expected to socialize during the week only with other privileged ladies, then worship in the same place as their hired helps on Sundays...

Wise and Otherwise was first published in 1873. Previous book in the series: The King’s Daughter. Next book in the series: Ester Ried Yet Speaking. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 8 hours, 7 min. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.

Wise and Otherwise

Ester Ried Yet Speaking is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and is the fifth novel in her “Ester Ried” series. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sequel to Wise and Otherwise.

Alfred Ried (brother of Ester Ried) is living in New York City and trying hard to serve the Lord, just as Ester did. Alfred wants to help the hundreds of poor street boys in his city to come to faith and improve their conditions but is discouraged and overwhelmed with the task. 
Enter Flossy (Shipley) Roberts, a willing worker who focuses on 7 such boys and especially on one. Flossy has a plan in place to make Alfred’s work at the mission a success, and to honor Ester’s name in the process…
Ester Ried Yet Speaking was first published in 1883. Previous book in the series: Wise and Otherwise. Next book in the series: Ester Ried's Namesake. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 8 hours, 16 min. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.

Ester Ried Yet Speaking

Ester Ried's Namesake is a Christian fiction novel by American author Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy" and is the sixth and last novel in her “Ester Ried” series. Sequel to Ester Ried Yet Speaking. Heartwarming stories of faith and love set in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Esther Ried Randall tries to live up to her missionary parents' expectations and the name she's been given, but her religion is a chore. Her mother Ester Ried was a Godly woman who inspired others to work for Christ. Although Esther Randall is a Christian, her faith isn’t any help at all in her daily life. Will she learn the lesson of faith that Ester did? 

Esther takes the chance to strike out on her own and attend college hundreds of miles from home, where her Christian beliefs are tested as never before. Will Esther Randall learn the same lessons of faith that Ester Ried learned years before?
Ester Ried's Namesake was first published in 1906. Previous book in the series: Ester Ried Yet Speaking. Audiobook read by Tricia G, running time 8 hours, 17 min. Unabridged full version.

Isabella Macdonald Alden (1841 - 1945) was an American author of Christian fiction publishing her novels under her pen name “Pansy”. Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; in 1900, sales were estimated at around 100,000 copies annually.