The Damnation of Theron Ware

"The Damnation of Theron Ware" by Harold Frederic is a story set in the late 1800s, focusing on Theron Ware, a youthful Methodist minister, as he deals with the pressures and letdowns within his church and town after being assigned to a less-than-ideal congregation in Octavius; at the start of the story, Theron and his wife, Alice, attend the yearly conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, hoping for a better job, but they are disappointed to be sent to Octavius, a place the locals don't want. The beginning of the book shows the stressed atmosphere during the appointment announcements, highlighting the hopes and worries of the ministers there; as Theron struggles with feeling not good enough and the pressure on him, we see the first signs of the challenges that will affect his path as he tries to handle his faith, social standing, and marriage in this new, unfriendly place.