This is a story set in the late 1800's. Lucy Foothill is the wife of a missionary in China. I don't recommend this book. It is rather long and did not have very vivid descriptions of her surroundings - it was more about her feelings. She also tended to talk around subject instead of state things -- for example, she never states when she is pregnant and just says she has problems traveling at one point due to her conditions - and with the appearance of the baby you get it. She also talks around the fact that she is marrying a missionary in the beginning. She makes comments where you can guess that, but she never states it. Anyways, its a very lengthy book and your time could be better served reading one of the other books that describe China and her people much better. ( )