The Swing of the Pendulum by Katherine Mansfield

A poor young woman arrives in the city full of hope but is quickly worn down by illness, hunger, and the indifference of those around her. As she navigates harsh boarding houses and loneliness, a single act of unexpected kindness jolts her emotional world. The plot follows her descent and brief emotional uplift with raw realism. Mansfield presents the vulnerability of women in a cruel urban setting. It’s a powerful early story about despair, survival, and fragile dignity.