48 pages • 1 hour read
The Dearly Beloved
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Dearly Beloved (2019) is a historical novel written by American author Cara Wall. The novel follows the lives of two couples, Charles and Lily Barrett and James and Nan MacNally, as they navigate faith, marriage, parenthood, and hardships over 17 years in 1950s and 1960s America. While writing the novel, Wall used her knowledge of Presbyterian churches and autism to inform her work on the novel’s serious and potentially controversial themes. These themes include Faith Versus Doubt, The Impact of Personal Beliefs on Relationships, and The Search for Meaning and Purpose.
This study guide refers to the 2019 paperback edition of the novel.
Content Warning: The novel and this guide discuss pregnancy loss, illegal abortions, sexual harassment and assault, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol addiction, depression, and outdated approaches to autism treatment, including institutionalization. The novel also uses offensive, outdated language to discuss autism.
Plot Summary
The novel begins in the present day with minister James MacNally receiving the news of his friend and co-minister Charles Barrett’s death. While he mourns, his wife, Nan, ponders whether God will heal his pain like her father always taught her he does.
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