The novel explores the lives of two women, a mother and daughter, who embody different values and lifestyles. The mother, a product of the old aristocracy, clings to traditional social norms and conventions, while the daughter, influenced by modernity and feminism, seeks independence and self-expression. Through their contrasting perspectives, the novel examines the tensions between tradition and progress, highlighting the limitations and possibilities of women's lives in the early 20th century American South.
By Ellen Glasgow · First published 1902 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction