Publisher's Synopsis
The year is 1884 and Rose, recently arrived from Mount Lebanon, is selling household goods door-to-door on the "Great Plains" of America in the company of another peddler called Hanna. With the season nearly over, they decide to head south to New Orleans where Rose goes into business with Evangeline, her Creole landlady, supplying outfits to the city's show girls. She grows fond of Evangeline's nephew, Henri, and marries him in an informal ceremony after being propositioned by a wealthy gentleman of the city called Mr. de Burgh.
As her business begins to prosper, Rose tries to get her friend Maryam to join her from Mount Lebanon but instead she sends her daughter, Li'l Rose. For eight years all goes well until a couple of unexpected events occur two years apart: first Mr. de Burgh makes a pass at Li'l Rose, now an attractive young woman, thereby infuriating Rose; then Henri dies unexpectedly of yellow fever, leaving her listless and broken-hearted.
