Their Pilgrimage

"Their Pilgrimage" by Charles Dudley Warner is a tale set in the latter part of the 1800s, which shadows the Benson family, with a focus on Irene, their daughter, as they travel to different resorts in the southern states of America, searching for warmer weather and fresh social interactions. Right at the beginning, the novel presents a lively group of characters and tackles topics like social standing, who people are, and how American society was changing after the Civil War. The story kicks off at Fortress Monroe, where the Benson's have just gotten to their destination. Irene is fascinated by how beautiful the hotel is and the landscape that surrounds it, which is different from her dad's more practical take on the busy resort life. The developing conversations show the social relationships that are present, as a traveling companion, Mr. Stanhope King, grows interested in Irene and her family. The start of the story smoothly looks at how various characters relate to each other, hinting at romance and social observations as they meet other people at the hotel, while also giving clues about how Irene feels inside and what she wants, laying a detailed groundwork for the family's travels that will follow.