Surviving Savannah

Surviving Savannah is the 16th novel by American author Patti Callahan. Callahan often focuses on Southern women and their untold stories, both contemporary and historical. These topics are ever-present in Surviving Savannah. With immersive descriptions and thoughtful storytelling, the novel garnered many positive reviews. Callahan is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today best-selling author. This guide refers to the 2021 print edition of the novel published by Penguin Random House.

Content Warning: Surviving Savannah contains descriptions of domestic violence, sexual assault, slavery, racism, murder, and the death of a small child.

Plot Summary

The novel weaves together two timelines through the eyes of three characters. In the present is Everly Winthrop, while in 1838 readers see the story through the eyes of Lilly Forsyth and Augusta Longstreet. The book begins by telling the story of Everly’s birth in a bathtub. Her mother, Harriet Winthrop, decided to take a bath before going to the hospital. Everly’s life is informed by storytelling, especially from her paternal grandfather, called Papa. When Everly is a child, Papa details wild accounts of the explosion of the steam packet Pulaski. In particular, he focuses on Lilly Forsyth, a woman who survived the disaster but disappeared shortly thereafter and has a statue dedicated to her in

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