A Fearful Responsibility and Other Stories

"A Fearful Responsibility and Other Stories" by William Dean Howells is a compilation of tales set in the latter part of the 1800s; the initial story follows Owen Elmore, a conflicted professor in Venice during the American Civil War, as he wrestles with duty and honor while his wife and the arrival of a young girl named Lily challenge his sense of expatriation. Lily's presence adds a layer of tension for Elmore as she attracts the attention of an Austrian officer, forcing Elmore to balance his protective instincts with social expectations and the desires of those around him. Elmore's internal battles and intricate social dynamics, set against the backdrop of a world in turmoil, expose the deep and lasting wounds from the impacts of historical happenings on ordinary lives.