The Able McLaughlins

by Margaret Wilson

"The Able McLaughlins" by Margaret Wilson is a novel published in 1923. Set in pioneer Iowa during the Civil War era, it follows Wully McLaughlin, a young soldier who returns home to discover his sweetheart Christie has been violated by the community's scoundrel. In a bold act of devotion, Wully marries Christie and claims her child as his own. When her attacker returns, Wully must confront him with vengeance in his heart. This Pulitzer Prize-winning story captures the struggles and resilience of a Scottish immigrant family on the prairie.