Sylvia: A Novel

"Sylvia: A Novel" by Upton Sinclair is a story set in the South, remembered by a woman who tells of a young aristocrat named Sylvia Castleman whose escapades and love life become a testament to the themes of affection, what society expects, and relationships during a certain period. Recounted fondly, the narrator looks back on her experiences with Sylvia and the world that she lived in, full of both special treatment and difficulty. As the story begins, she shares moments of Sylvia’s early years, noting her appeal and the special feeling people got from her. We see Sylvia grow up and face the pressures of the world, and the narrator's respect for her drives the story's focus to understanding Sylvia as she finds love and deals with what society throws at her.