Book excerpt: The New York Times bestselling author of The Good Earth returns with a story about a Southern woman caught in the past and two brothers torn apart by the Civil War. Lucinda Delaney is a southern belle dominated by a bygone era's view of life. Despite the fact that her side has lost the Civil War, she is determined to carry on as if nothing has changed-a denial that fuels her unreasonable rage. Despite her husband's professed devotion, Lucinda suspects he is having an affair with one of their slaves. His Union-supporting brother, Tom, did exactly that, scandalously fleeing with the woman and settling into a happy family life in Philadelphia.