The Barrier Breached Summary and Analysis

The couple makes their home in Virginia, instead of Ladywood as they dreamed in England, in Li'l Dreary on the Lynchburg campus where Van is to teach English. Culture shock sets in as they realize Oxford's thriving intellectual community with its theological discussions, love of poetry and music, and vibrant ecclesiastical life was more unusual than they had hoped. Christianity in America is concerned with including, allowing, and rationalizing everything, in the end believing nothing. There is no living, powerful presence of Christ, but a passionless dedication to church for church's sake only. So, the two dedicate themselves to their work, Van to teaching and Davy to keeping books for a local bank, and make friends where they can.

Van has a conversation with his students about the adjectives historians use to impose their own tone and...