The daughter of a wealthy railway magnate Paula Power inherits De Stancy Castle an ancient castle in need of modernization. She commissions George Somerset a young architect to undertake the work. Somerset falls in love with Paula but she the Laodicean of the title is torn between his admiration & that of Captain De Stancy whose old-world romanticism contrasts with Somersets forward-looking attitude. Paulas vacillation however is not only romantic. Her ambiguity regarding religion politics & social progress is a reflection of the authors own. This new Penguin Classics edition of Hardys text contains an introduction & notes that illuminate & clarify these themes & draws parallels between the text & the authors life & views.