New York Times Bestseller: The quest for the American Dream soars to
new heights in this coming-of-age story of a young woman and her
country.
Living with her aunt in poor, rural Preston, Pennsylvania,
thirteen-year-old Ellen Watson loves books and music and is completely
oblivious to her own beauty. But her extraordinary looks arouse envy and
malice in the female townspeople--and lust in the males. Hired as a
housemaid in the palatial home of the village mayor, Ellen soon catches
the attention of his son, Jeremy Porter, who captures her heart in turn.
He offers to send her to school, and four years later he proposes
marriage.
As the years pass, Ellen's life parallels the hopes, dreams, and fears
of a no-longer innocent nation. As America's enemies gather, Ellen must
face her own demons. The wife of the scion of a powerful political
family, she has everything she could ever desire: security, children,
and a successful, adoring husband. But when tragedy rips her life apart,
Ellen will be forced to confront some terrible truths about her
marriage, her family, and herself.
Played out against the backdrop of early twentieth-century America,
Ceremony of the Innocent intertwines Ellen's personal journey with
America's emergence from the devastation of World War I. It raises vital
questions, such as: Are we as good as we believe we are? And is faith
enough to keep us moving forward even in the face of unimaginable loss?
