Since few scholars are acquainted with Braddon, I spend Chapter 1 recounting her background and the works of previous scholars about her. Chapter 2 delves into the serialized mode of production in order to contextualize its considerable influence upon Braddon, her readers, and her critics. Chapter 3 begins with the rationale and set up of her experiment then explains the methodology that I use to examine the six novels. Chapter 4 focuses upon the first pair of texts by applying the my methodology. Chapter 5 deals with the second pair in light of the editorial choices Braddon made based upon the previous year's experience. Chapter 6 addresses the third phase of Braddon's experiment and discusses the author's place in literature.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon, a prolific writer from 1860-1915, attempted to break away from her label as a "sensation" novelist by trying to improve her style through incorporating advice given to her by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Between 1863 and 1865, she wrote two novels per year attempting to elevate one to the level of "art" and turning the other out "as neatly as possible" in order to support herself. These three matched pairs of Braddon's novels are here examined an attempt to assess the success of her experiment and to bring to light the factors that influenced her writing and the critical reception they received.