In this masterful novel, a wealthy young northerner, Anson Dodge, discovers new meaning in his life on St. Simons Island, Georgia, just after the Civil War. A man of remarkable and unforgettable kindness and strength, he shares his heart with two very different women—Ellen, who passionately adores him, and Anna, who comforts him in sorrow. They each surrender themselves to his dreams.

Anson Dodge's story unfolds as a beautiful tale of honor when he rebuilds the war-torn Christ Church, Frederica, in memory of happy and lost love.