The Lady of the Decoration

The Lady of the Decoration, written by Frances Little and published in 1913, is a novel set during Japan's Meiji period. It follows a young widow from Kentucky who travels to Japan to teach at a mission school, seeking to rebuild her life after her husband's death. The story is presented through a series of letters to her cousin, detailing her reflections on loss, cultural adaptation, and the challenges of her new role as a missionary. The book offers insights into the experiences of a foreigner in Japan during a transformative historical era.