Set in the remote village of Great Pond, Maine during the first half of the nineteenth century, its heroine, Harriet, leaves her comfortable home in New Brunswick, Canada, along with her husband to assist his ailing parents, who live in a tiny wilderness hamlet. Her courage, self sacrifice, and determination, as well deep religious faith, was the inspiration for this book. Although the story is fictional, Harriet was a real person who possessed many of the virtues of its main character. Her stoic nature and remarkable abilities not only enable her to adapt to an completely different lifestyle from her former one, but to initiate many improvements in the community and its life style as well. Although this writing features hardships and demanding circumstances placed upon the people concerned, it also contains their joys and even some romantic occasions.