Barren Ground

Set in Reconstruction-era Virginia, this novel follows Dorinda Oakley, a twenty-year-old woman navigating life in the Shenandoah Valley after the Civil War. The intelligent and independent daughter of a struggling farmer, Dorinda works at Nathan Pedlar's Store to support her family while dreaming of escaping her poor community. Her life changes when she falls in love with Jason Greylock, the son of the local doctor, setting her on an unexpected journey that tests her resilience and takes her far from home. Published in 1925, the novel offers a realistic portrayal of the post–Civil War South and received critical acclaim upon its release. Ellen Glasgow, the author, published twenty books throughout her career and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1942 for her novel In This Our Life.