Book of Abigail Summary

The Keepers of the House tells the story of a southern family, the Howlands. The story is woven through many generations and is set against a backdrop of the conservative southern states. It is a collection of five "books," each book focusing on a particular character within a generation. It's first section, the Book of Abigail, focuses on Abigail Tolliver, the daughter of Abigail Howland and Gregory Mason. In it, Abigail reminisces about recent events. The month is November and it is a quiet evening in the countryside. Abigail looks out across her family's vast property, from the big house to the Providence River. She is surrounded by picturesque wildlife and reflects on how she came to live there. It is supper time, but the house is relatively quiet because only her two youngest children, Marge and Johnny, live...