Derelicts

"Derelicts" by William John Locke is a story that shows what happens when someone tries to overcome a difficult past at the end of the 1800s. The book is about Stephen Joyce who is struggling because he used to be a convict. After getting out of prison, he wants to be accepted by everyone else, find friends, and find someone that understands him. When the story starts, Stephen Joyce sits in front of a fancy, empty house which represents what he lost. The story gives us background of his life, and what it was like before and after his time in prison. Eventually he meets Yvonne Latour again, and she is friendly to him. Their interactions demonstrate the difficult issues of guilt, forgiveness, and human connection.