The story revolves around a young woman named Laura who returns to her family's ancestral home in Virginia after the Civil War. She finds the once-grand estate in disrepair and the family struggling financially. Laura decides to take matters into her own hands, using her business acumen to restore the estate to its former glory. Through her efforts, she attracts the attention of a wealthy businessman, but ultimately chooses to marry a man from a lower social class who shares her values. The novel explores themes of feminism, class, and social change in the post-Civil War era.
By Ellen Glasgow · First published 1924 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary