Mississippi

Nan grew up as the only daughter of the pastor of a small church in Mississippi. She lived a sheltered life with her privileged family. Nan notes at one point that she was disturbed by the civil rights movement because it considered her home and her lifestyle to be an “outrage” (133). When James visited Nan’s home in Mississippi, he was overwhelmed by the affluence to which she was accustomed. He believed it only underscored that he was so far below her on the socio-economic scale.

London

London is the city in England where James goes to study divinity. Nan enjoys living in London until she suffers her first miscarriage. She realizes at that time her life had become difficult. She struggles to keep from questioning why God took her baby. It is while Nan is in London trying to recover from her miscarriage that she becomes interested...