Who Saxon Brown is
Saxon Brown irons fine clothes for a living, but she wants more than the exhausting routine around her. She is proud, sensible and firm about how others treat her.
Her mother crosses the plains in a pioneer wagon train and writes poetry. Saxon grows up with those stories and feels connected to the settlers' spirit of independence.
What Saxon Brown wants
Saxon wants a home that offers order and security, not merely a rented room. When strikes threaten her marriage and household, she begins to question whether Oakland can give them that life.
She proposes leaving on foot to look for land, despite their small means and uncertain prospects. Her hope rests on their willingness to work and learn, rather than on becoming rich.
Saxon Brown and the others in the story
Saxon meets Billy Roberts at a dance and values his gentleness as well as his strength. Their marriage comes under strain, but she refuses to let hardship decide its course.
Her older neighbor Mercedes Higgins offers advice shaped by a troubled life. Saxon listens carefully, yet measures that advice against her own sense of right and wrong.
Questions
Who is Saxon Brown?
Saxon Brown is a young laundry worker whose search for a secure home helps drive the novel.
Why does Saxon want to leave Oakland?
She sees the city wearing them down and believes the countryside may offer a more independent life.
How does Saxon influence Billy Roberts?
She encourages Billy to imagine a life beyond city work and to consider learning how to farm.
