The Precipice: A Novel

"The Precipice: A Novel" by Elia Wilkinson Peattie is a story set in the early 1900s, and it follows Kate Barrington, a young woman just finished with college. As Kate comes back home from the University of Chicago, she has to figure out who she is amidst her family and what society expects from women at the time. The story uses Kate to explore how pursuing one's goals can conflict with old-fashioned beliefs about women and independence. We meet Kate as she says goodbye to her friend Lena Vroom, thinking about college and feeling unsure about going back to her family. Kate remembers good times, but also feels annoyed by how people expect women to behave. Her kindness shows, especially towards Lena, who seems to struggle with feeling lost. Back home, Kate feels both happy and sad, caught between her dreams and feeling stuck in her traditional role, hinting at the struggles she will face.