Lily Pearl and The Mistress of Rosedale

"Lily Pearl and The Mistress of Rosedale" by Ida Glenwood is a historical fiction novel set in the late 1800s that tells the story of families facing difficult choices during the Civil War era. At the heart of the story is a well-off woman at Cliff House awaiting her daughter Lillian, who has just become a mother amidst a stormy night, as the mother is wrestling with tough decisions about Lillian’s future. The story introduces Phebe, whose fate is closely linked to Lillian, and hints at themes of love, identity, and loss. The novel unfolds with tension and fear as it looks at complicated family connections and strict social rules.