The Inner Shrine

"The Inner Shrine" by Basil King is an early 20th-century novel exploring the intricate web of human connections, primarily centering on Mrs. Eveleth's deep-seated worries about her son George and his marriage to Diane. The story explores themes of love, betrayal, and societal expectations within families, starting with Mrs. Eveleth anxiously awaiting George and Diane's return from a Parisian night out, sensing something terrible will happen. Her fears materialize after learning George fought a duel, which leads to tragedy, and the story then shows the different ways Mrs. Eveleth and Diane deal with their sadness as they face life after loss, crafting a complex story about finding forgiveness and looking at the issues in society.