The novel follows the story of a young man, John Randolph, who is born into a wealthy Virginia family. He is raised in a privileged environment, but his life is changed when his father dies and he is forced to take over the family estate. He is determined to make a success of the estate, but he soon finds himself in a difficult situation. He is in love with a woman from a lower social class, and his family disapproves of the match. He is also struggling to keep the estate afloat, as the Civil War has caused a decline in the family's fortunes. John must make a difficult decision: will he stay and try to make the estate successful, or will he run away and start a new life with the woman he loves? The novel follows John as he navigates the complexities of his situation, and ultimately makes a decision that will shape his future.
By Thomas Nelson Page · First published 1891 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Romance · 2 chapters