View a FREE sample

Chapter 1

• The novel opens with the description of a train trip from Richmond, Virginia, to the fictional town of Port Warwick, Virginia.

• Waiting for the train in Port Warwick are Milton Loftis, Dolly Bonner (Milton's mistress) and Ella Swan (the Loftis family cook).

• The body of Peyton Loftis, Milton's younger daughter, is coming by train from New York City.
• While waiting for the train, Milton reminisces about his life and remembers his father's admonishments about living a responsible, productive life.

• Milton recalls meeting and marrying his wife, Helen, as well as his college days at the University of Virginia where he began to drink heavily.

• Milton finds a letter Peyton wrote him from New York and his grief is palpable at the loss of his favorite child.
• The funeral hearse keeps overheating which adds an element of frustration to the day.

• Helen recalls elements of her life too...

(read more Chapter Abstracts)

This section contains 1,478 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample