The Desert and the Sown

"The Desert and the Sown" by Mary Hallock Foote is a story that captures the experiences of military families during the late 1800s through character-driven interactions that explore love and conflict. You are introduced to Colonel Middleton and his daughter, Moya, alongside the Bogardus family, their lives soon become intertwined. The book starts with Colonel Middleton facing challenges as he deals with Mrs. Bogardus, who is soon to be his daughter's mother-in-law, which highlights their differences of opinion on class and personal expectations. In contrast to the serious topics, Moya's energy, along with her soon-to-be husband Paul Bogardus, bring the challenges of their pasts into play which are the seeds of coming conflicts. The start of the story combines humor and feelings of uncertainty, hinting at broader disputes and relationships that are building within a world of love, social pressures and personal quests within the frontier.