Summary

Chapter 1 – Nora Webster is a resident of County Wexford, Ireland. Her husband, Maurice, has recently died. Many people, including elderly May Lacey, come to see Nora and her younger children, Donal and Conor. Nora also has two older children. Aine is at school in Bunclody while Fiona is training to be a teacher in Dublin. May wishes to read to Nora from a letter written by her son Jack whom Nora has not seen in twenty years, but May cannot find the letter.

Nora takes a trip to the family’s vacation cottage in Cush, near the town of Blackwater. She remembers how the family would begin each summer there by giving the cottage a good cleaning. Mrs. Darcy, who watches over the place, arrives at the cottage and insists Nora come up to her house. They have tea. Nora considers in her mind...