Miss Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty

"Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty" by John William De Forest is a historical story set during the American Civil War, follows Lillie Ravenel, a Southern woman facing tough decisions about her loyalty as the nation divides, and Edward Colburne, a Northern lawyer who represents the Union's values. The story explores themes of who we are, what we're loyal to, and how tricky relationships can be when a country is at war. We meet Edward Colburne as he encounters Lillie Ravenel after her family runs from the South because of the fighting. Lillie's father, Doctor Ravenel, is a Southerner who doesn't support his state's decision to rebel. The relationship between Colburne and Lillie is intense as they deal with opposite opinions during a time when people strongly defended what they believed in. Doctor Ravenel's funny comments about the differences between the North and South give a sense of the bigger ideas that will be questioned, while Lillie's personality and young energy contrast with the seriousness of the Civil War. These first parts of the story prepare us for a detailed look at personal relationships amidst the major conflict of the Civil War.