Synopsis
Autumn, 1918: Rumors of peace are spreading across America, but spreading even faster are the first cases of Spanish influenza, whispering of the epidemic to come. Maureen Ross, well past a safe childbearing age, is experiencing a difficult pregnancy. Her husband, Troop -- cold and careless of her condition -- is an emotional cripple who has battered her spirit throughout their marriage. As Maureen's time grows near, she becomes convinced she will die in childbirth. Into this loveless ménage comes Mary Oliver, Troop's niece. The sheltered child of a well-to-do freethinking Washington family, Mary arrives to help Maureen in the last weeks of her confinement. Horrified by Troop's bullying, she soon discovers that her true duty is to protect her aunt.
As influenza spreads and the death toll grows, Troop's spiteful behaviors worsen. Tormenting his wife, taunting her for her "low birth,"...
The Washington Post
… reading Kaye Gibbons invariably provides pleasures, including her gorgeous voice and the generous empathy she brings to her female characters. Her return trips to the first half of the 20th century are powerful reminders of American women's struggles and gains. It's always entertaining to tag along on her journeys, and when she follows her quirkiest impulses, she is a great literary companion. — Valerie Sayers