St. Elmo

by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans

"St. Elmo" by Augusta J. Evans is a novel published in 1866. The story centers on the charged relationship between St. Elmo, a cynical man, and Edna Earl, a devout and intellectual young woman. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the novel explores themes of female agency, redemption, and the power of women to transform fallen men. It became a cultural phenomenon, selling a million copies within four months and inspiring numerous adaptations, though its complex treatment of women's roles sparked both admiration and controversy.