Virginia

The young woman, Virginia, is portrayed by the author as deeply engrained in the traditions of her home state, for which she was named. She is faced with adaptation to the changing societal norms and gender roles brought about by the American Civil War. The novel is set in Dinwiddie, Virginia, from 1884 to 1912, and it centers on the life of Virginia Pendleton. She marries a playwright, and he seeks success in New York City. Virginia, tasked with raising their children, tries to keep their marriage intact as the fires of romance fade. By midlife, Virginia finds herself alone and careworn as she seeks a new purpose in life. This narrative explores the societal and personal challenges faced by women during this period. Some have felt the book to be largely autographical. A prolific writer, the author, Ellen Glasgow published twenty-four novels and won the 1942 Pulitzer Prize for In This Our Life. Read more