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A Candle in the Darkness
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Plot Summary of A Candle in the Darkness
"Caroline Fletcher was twelve years old on the day in 1853 when she realized just how different she was from everyone else. She had grown up feeling like the slaves were part of her family. She loved her "mammy," Tessie, and spent her days playing with Tessie's son, Grady, who was like a little brother to Caroline. But when her father sells Grady, Caroline realizes her views on slavery are not the same as those shared by the rest of Virginia. The time she spends in Philadelphia with relatives after the death of her mother only cements her views that slavery is a moral wrong that must be ended. But returning to Richmond, she realizes that will be a lot harder than she imagined. Caroline finds herself falling in love with Charles St. John, the son of a wealthy Richmond businessman and a defender of slavery. Caroline and Charles become engaged to be married, but the Civil War breaks out just three months before they were to be married. Charles goes off to fight for the Confederacy, even though Caroline begins him not to. When her father leaves as well, Caroline finds herself alone in Richmond and torn in two. She struggles with her conflicting loyalties to her home and family, and to the cause she so strongly believes. "
Rebecca Herman, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of A Candle in the Darkness
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 19th century
Political/social activism Yes
Plotlet: - slavery
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians Yes
Conflict: - War, Civil

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - wealthy
Age: - a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South
City? Yes

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to A Candle in the Darkness
An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Angels Watching Over Me by Michael Phillips
In The Crossfire by L.R. Bliss
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier


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Lynn Austin Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Rebecca Herman  

SCHOLARS:
Harriet Klausner  


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