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 and that of Captain De Stancy whose old world romanticism contrasts with Somerset s forward looking outlook Paula s vacillation however is not only romantic Her ambiguity regarding religion politics and social progress is a reflection of the author s own This new Penguin Classics edition of Hardy s text contains an introduction and notes that illuminate and clarify these themes and draws parallels between the text and the author s life and views The daughter of a wealthy railway magnate Paula Power inherits ancient Stancy Castle She commissions George Somerset a young architect to undertake the work but is then torn between George s admiration and that of Captain De Stancy whose old world romanticism contrasts with Somerset s forward looking attitude