Beulah

Beulah, published in 1859 by Augusta J. Evans, follows the life of Beulah Benton, a young orphan in a Southern asylum. The novel explores her struggles with isolation, identity, and societal expectations, as well as her relationships with her companions, Claudia and Lillian. Notable for its portrayal of a woman's quest for independence and intellectual engagement, Beulah reflects the complexities of 19th-century domestic life and the search for faith amidst doubt. Evans, a prominent female novelist of her time, addresses themes of love, loss, and the constraints placed on women in society.