The Way to Peace

"The Way to Peace" by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland is a story that takes place in the early 1900s, looking at the difficult parts of being married, what people believe, and how people try and find peace, mostly through the lives of Athalia Hall and her husband, Lewis Hall. As they try to make their marriage work, even though they have different ideas and wants, the book talks about knowing who you are and whether it's better to be part of a group or be your own person. The story is about Athalia suddenly wanting to visit a Shaker community after seeing how calm they seem to be. She starts to really like how they live together and how peaceful they are, and she thinks about leaving her husband to join them. Lewis, at the same time, is struggling with how much he loves Athalia and what people will think if she leaves him. The story really shows how hard it is for both of them as they question what they believe, their promises to each other, and what it means to have a home and be happy. In the end, the novel looks at the sacrifices people make for what they believe in and how love and freedom can be a tricky mix when you have responsibilities.