winner of the 2006 pulitzer prize for fictionfrom the author of the acclaimed year of wonders a historical novel and love story set during a time of catastrophe on the front lines of the american civil war acclaimed author geraldine brooks gives us the story of the absent father from louisa may alcotts little womenand conjures a world of brutality stubborn courage and transcendent love an idealistic abolitionist march has gone as chaplain to serve the union cause but the war tests his faith not only in the unionwhich is also capable of barbarism and racismbut in himself as he recovers from a nearfatal illness march must reassemble and reconnect with his family who have no idea of what he has endured a love story set in a time of catastrophe march explores the passions between a man and a woman the tenderness of parent and child and the lifechanging power of an ardently held belief