Gone with the Wind

This was the only novel written by Southerner Margaret Mitchell - which was made into a film in 1939. It is racist and is unashamedly on the side of the Old South but it is a good read and was extremely popular when it came out. It is set in Georgia, beginning at the start of the Civil war. The heroine is Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of an Irishman who came to America as a young man and won a plantation at cards. Gerald O' Hara managed to marry well, to Ellen Robillard, daughter of a French family, who had had an unhappy love affair and decided to marry him for security. They produced 3 daughters, Scarlett, Sue Ellen and Carreen, but their sons all died at birth. Scarlett is wilful and selfish and while she is sharp witted, she is not very intelligent. At the beginning of the war, she thinks of nothing but parties and admirers. However, while she has many suitors, Scarlett is in love with her neighbour, the gentle poetical Ashley Wilkes. One of her beaux tells her that Melanie Hamilton, Ashleys' cousin is getting engaged to him at the next day's afternoon barbeque. Scarlett can't believe that he could marry a dull quiet girl like Melanie, and she resolves to tell him that she loves him and wants to marry him. At the barbeque, she flirts with shy awkward Charles Hamilton Melanie's brother, and then corners Ashley in the house and tells him of her feelings. He is very upset, as he does care for her but he is aware of how very different they are and how they could not be a happy couple. He goes away leaving her to cool down, but she finds that her love scene has been witnessed by a guest, Rhett Butler who comes from a wealthy family who have disowned him because he is a lady's man. Rhett is amused by Scarlett's furious reaction to Ashley's desertion. Then she accepts a proposal from Charles Hamilton, to show Ashley that she does not care about his leaving her.