Elizabeth Inchbald’s Nature and Art is the story of two brothers, Henry and William Norwynne that set out on foot for London.  They are the sons of a shopkeeper, who recently died.  Henry finds work as an entertainer of rich people, by playing his violin.  He supports William and sends him to school to learn to be a clergyman.  He becomes a dean and later a bishop.  They both marry.  William marries Lady Clementina, an older, vain woman.  Henry marries a nameless woman, his equal.  William tells Henry his wife is not worthy of Lady Clementina’s company. Henry’s wife dies within a year of their marriage.  The brothers part ways. Henry takes off with his child, Henry Jr. and a group of settlers to an African Island.  The story focuses on William, his wife and their son, young William.  Their marriage is unhappy. She is driven only by vanity and William does not love her.  Their son becomes well educated, but is described as a “little man,” only repeating everything he is taught, having no thoughts of his own.

One day, a messenger arrives with Henry’s son, now 12 years old.  Henry was being held prisoner and may be put to death.  He sent young Henry away to William to spare his life.  William takes his nephew and begins to educate him of the English ways.  Young Henry is seen as an immature and uneducated fool.  Young Henry is constantly engaged in moral arguments.  The family vacations away for the summer, where young William and young Henry fall in love with two girls.  Young Henry is a gentleman with his girlfriend Rebecca Rymer and young William gets his girlfriend, Hannah Primrose pregnant.  William is unaware of this, but vows to never see her again because he has been engaged to Miss Sedgely.  On his way to seeing Rebecca, Henry comes across a baby abandoned in the woods.  He gives it to Rebecca to take care of.  Her father discovers it and threatens to throw her out of his house if she does not confess to being the mother and naming the father.  She names Henry, but Henry does not admit to being the father and agrees to marry Rebecca.  He agrees to find a nurse for the baby and become employed.  Upon Henry’s almost departure he runs into Hannah, on the verge of suicide.  She admits the baby is hers and clears Rebecca and Henry’s names.