In the Shadow of the Pines: A Tale of Tidewater Virginia

In the Shadow of the Pines: A Tale of Tidewater Virginia By John Hamilton Howard (1906), this novel traces the conflict between conscience and familial duty. Leonidas Darwood leaves his Portsmouth home after refusing his father Thomas's command to abandon what the elder calls "foolish fanaticism"—an act of principled defiance driven by religious conviction. The narrative unfolds across Tidewater Virginia, with particular focus on the mysterious village of Deep Creek, bounded by the impenetrable Great Dismal Swamp spanning six counties. The setting incorporates historical details: the swamp harbored escaped slaves and criminals, and figures like the antagonistic patrol and shingle-getters represent conflicting interests. The story involves various characters including Dr. Demster, Gabriel Arnold, the mysterious Count de Bussy, and Isabel Proctor. Plot elements include rescues, nocturnal visits, discoveries, a doctor's diagnosis of Arnold's condition, romantic rivalry, murder plots, secret revelations, and suicide, culminating in matters of inheritance and moral resolution.