The Carbonels by Charlotte M. Yonge is a historical novel that follows the lives of Captain Edmund Carbonel and his wife, Mary, as they settle into life at Greenhow Farm. The novel, set in early 19th-century England, explores their efforts to improve the local rural community, particularly through their endeavors to start a Sunday school and deal with the skepticism of the locals. Themes of social improvement, rural life, and community dynamics are central to the story, offering a glimpse into life in the English countryside during that period.