The Keepers of the House Summary
Shirley Ann Grau

The Keepers of the House Summary

Shirley Ann Grau's The Keepers of the House is a multi-generational novel about an American family that transcends time, moving from pre- to post- Civil war eras. The Howland family estate encompasses many acres in the rolling hills of Wade County. At the time that the property was chosen, William Marshall Howland had just been discharged from the American War war of 1812 and wanted little more than a place to call home and a view of the Providence River. He built the home with his own hands. William was murdered by marauding Indians, but both his name and his property were passed on through the generations that followed. Over time, the farm was expanded upon and slaves were employed to help maintain its extensive fields. The family harvested cotton, corn, sorghum, hogs and tobacco, as well as participating in extensive lumbering. Shirley Ann Grau uses the home as... View more of the The Keepers of the House Summary