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Savannah Quartet #3
Before the Darkness Falls
Georgia, 1842. A grand and passionate era of American history, forged by the dreams of extraordinary men and women...the willful Natalie Browning Latimer, whose newfound marital bliss was threatened by a shattering loss...the ambitious W. H. Stiles, whose daring political trail led his family into the turmoil of Western Europe...and young Jonathan Browning, who fell in love with the one woman who could never be welcomed into Savannah society.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
88 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Eugenia Price
85 books229 followersEugenia Price was born in Charleston, WV, June 22, 1916, to Walter (a dentist) and Anna Price. At the age of ten, she decided she wanted to be a writer and entered a poem in her school's literary magazine. She was raised as a member of the Methodist Church, but had left the church behind by the time she graduated from high school, at the age of 15, in 1932. She decided to leave writing behind to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in dentistry. She attended Ohio University for three years, declaring herself an atheist during this time. In 1935, she became a student at Northwestern Dental School, the only woman admitted that year. She studied dentistry for two years, but writing continued to draw her. In 1939, she was hired to work on the NBC radio serial In Care of Aggie Horn. She continued as one of the writers for the show until 1942. She left NBC, going to work for the Proctor and Gamble show Joyce Jordan, M.D. from 1944-1946. In 1945 she founded her own television and radio production company, Eugenia Price Productions, developing other serials for Proctor and Gamble.
In 1949 Eugenia Price underwent a profound life change, giving up her college atheism to embrace Christianity. She considered a career change, but accepted a position with WGN Radio as writer, producer, and director for Unshackled, another radio serial. The popularity of the show led her to a lecturing career throughout the United States and Canada for several years.
Price began yet another career in the early 1950s when she was approached by one of the owners of Zondervan publishing. The 1953 publication of Discoveries Made from Living My New Life, a chronicle of her newfound faith and the experiences that led her to it, launched Eugenia Price into a new career as an inspirational writer. Other inspirational books followed, addresses issues of importance to women and children and other self-help concerns and urging readers away from advances in psychology and analysis and toward a life based on Biblical tenants. Many of her inspirational books are still in print, a testimony to the comfort and empathy many readers found in her works.
Eugenia Price gained a much wider audience though when she began publishing historical romances set in the American South. These novels were praised as "compelling sagas that blend personal stories of love and tragedy. . . with the dramatic events of a region's history." Her first historical romance, The Beloved Invader, was inspired her visit to Saint Simons Island, Georgia and based on one of the island's nineteenth-century inhabitants. The Beloved Invader was published in 1965 and followed by two other romances, New Moon Rising (1969) and Lighthouse (1971), to form the St. Simons Trilogy.
Her historical romances made Price a frequent member of the best-seller lists and brought her millions of readers. Although she continued to write and to publish inspirational works, it was her romances that brought her the greatest attention.
Eugenia Price died May 28, 1996, in Brunswick, Georgia of congestive heart failure and is buried in the Christ Church cemetery, Frederica, GA. Many of her books remain in print and have translated into 17 languages, charming readers of all ages and nationalities. Her manuscripts are housed at Boston University.
In 1949 Eugenia Price underwent a profound life change, giving up her college atheism to embrace Christianity. She considered a career change, but accepted a position with WGN Radio as writer, producer, and director for Unshackled, another radio serial. The popularity of the show led her to a lecturing career throughout the United States and Canada for several years.
Price began yet another career in the early 1950s when she was approached by one of the owners of Zondervan publishing. The 1953 publication of Discoveries Made from Living My New Life, a chronicle of her newfound faith and the experiences that led her to it, launched Eugenia Price into a new career as an inspirational writer. Other inspirational books followed, addresses issues of importance to women and children and other self-help concerns and urging readers away from advances in psychology and analysis and toward a life based on Biblical tenants. Many of her inspirational books are still in print, a testimony to the comfort and empathy many readers found in her works.
Eugenia Price gained a much wider audience though when she began publishing historical romances set in the American South. These novels were praised as "compelling sagas that blend personal stories of love and tragedy. . . with the dramatic events of a region's history." Her first historical romance, The Beloved Invader, was inspired her visit to Saint Simons Island, Georgia and based on one of the island's nineteenth-century inhabitants. The Beloved Invader was published in 1965 and followed by two other romances, New Moon Rising (1969) and Lighthouse (1971), to form the St. Simons Trilogy.
Her historical romances made Price a frequent member of the best-seller lists and brought her millions of readers. Although she continued to write and to publish inspirational works, it was her romances that brought her the greatest attention.
Eugenia Price died May 28, 1996, in Brunswick, Georgia of congestive heart failure and is buried in the Christ Church cemetery, Frederica, GA. Many of her books remain in print and have translated into 17 languages, charming readers of all ages and nationalities. Her manuscripts are housed at Boston University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 26, 2014
Where I got the book: review copy provided by the publisher. My feature article on the Savannah Quartet appears on the Historical Novel Society website.
This third installment in the Savannah Quartet has the most fragmented plot structure, but Price weaves her various plot lines together skillfully enough that if you’ve read the first two books, you’re not going to worry too much about the lack of a central plot. In this novel and the next one, Stranger in Savannah, Price moves from exploring the history of Georgia in general to the specific foreshadowing of the Civil War. And Price loves foreshadowing. Thanks to the real-life W.H. Stiles and his ties to the fictional Browning family, Price is able to get into the political nitty-gritty of States’ Rights in a pretty educational way, and in fact the last two books in the Quartet are valuable to readers of American historical fiction in that they outline the feelings in the South (on both sides) as the country inches closer to war.
Price shows a family/close network of family friends dividing over the issues of states’ rights and slavery. Mark and Caroline Browning are the most compelling example, since Mark, a Northerner by birth and breeding brought up by an abolitionist, is vehemently anti-slavery while Caroline inherited slaves and finds it quite normal to own them. For the sake of marital harmony they manage to avoid the issue, which may seem far-fetched unless you’ve been married for a long time (as I have) to someone who has different views of the world (yep)—you either allow your differences to break the marriage bond, or learn to live with them because your marriage is more important than the issues. Given Mark’s strong feelings about family, I can understand his willingness to stick his head in the sand, even while occasionally wanting to smack both him and Caroline.
And I still want to smack Natalie, who remains self-centered and childish despite personal tragedy. It’s funny how people in a book can annoy you but you’ll keep reading their story anyway.
The Jonathan and Mary plot line seems a little contrived to me, even while it fits in with that general theme of love overcoming differences. I’ve never really been able to get my head around Mary.
This third installment in the Savannah Quartet has the most fragmented plot structure, but Price weaves her various plot lines together skillfully enough that if you’ve read the first two books, you’re not going to worry too much about the lack of a central plot. In this novel and the next one, Stranger in Savannah, Price moves from exploring the history of Georgia in general to the specific foreshadowing of the Civil War. And Price loves foreshadowing. Thanks to the real-life W.H. Stiles and his ties to the fictional Browning family, Price is able to get into the political nitty-gritty of States’ Rights in a pretty educational way, and in fact the last two books in the Quartet are valuable to readers of American historical fiction in that they outline the feelings in the South (on both sides) as the country inches closer to war.
Price shows a family/close network of family friends dividing over the issues of states’ rights and slavery. Mark and Caroline Browning are the most compelling example, since Mark, a Northerner by birth and breeding brought up by an abolitionist, is vehemently anti-slavery while Caroline inherited slaves and finds it quite normal to own them. For the sake of marital harmony they manage to avoid the issue, which may seem far-fetched unless you’ve been married for a long time (as I have) to someone who has different views of the world (yep)—you either allow your differences to break the marriage bond, or learn to live with them because your marriage is more important than the issues. Given Mark’s strong feelings about family, I can understand his willingness to stick his head in the sand, even while occasionally wanting to smack both him and Caroline.
And I still want to smack Natalie, who remains self-centered and childish despite personal tragedy. It’s funny how people in a book can annoy you but you’ll keep reading their story anyway.
The Jonathan and Mary plot line seems a little contrived to me, even while it fits in with that general theme of love overcoming differences. I’ve never really been able to get my head around Mary.
June 24, 2019
i'm reading this series at the behest of a friend who believes it to be one of the best series written. had to laugh when I saw it was volume 3 rather than 2. i missed an entire book and didn't notice!
entertaining enough for a summer read, but all the historical data inserted certainly slowed it down, and I didn't really care at all about the Stiles' time in Europe.
will forge ahead to volume 4 in the name of friendship!
entertaining enough for a summer read, but all the historical data inserted certainly slowed it down, and I didn't really care at all about the Stiles' time in Europe.
will forge ahead to volume 4 in the name of friendship!
February 4, 2012
Interminable. I read her first trilogy years ago, which was better. This has too many digressions on US history and politics. Anti-slavery, but no slaves are characters that we get to know. I finished it because of the local interest: the upcountry scenes are very close to where I live. It was neat to imagine it before roads etc.
August 11, 2011
I loved Eugenia Price when I was in my teens and early twenties and read everything I could get my hands on that she'd written. The Savannah series represents Price at her best.
April 10, 2022
Eugenia Price Does It Again
This is the second time I've read, Before Darkness Falls. As one who absolutely fell in love with Savannah upon my first visit I totally relate to Mark Brown ings passion for the city. Upon reading the Savannah Quartet it opened my eyes to the interesting history of this charming city. Next time I visit I will bring my notes that I've gathered reading this series to visit the graves & locations of the people & places mentioned in this series. Thank you to Eugenia Price for increasing my knowledge and passion for this beautiful city.
This is the second time I've read, Before Darkness Falls. As one who absolutely fell in love with Savannah upon my first visit I totally relate to Mark Brown ings passion for the city. Upon reading the Savannah Quartet it opened my eyes to the interesting history of this charming city. Next time I visit I will bring my notes that I've gathered reading this series to visit the graves & locations of the people & places mentioned in this series. Thank you to Eugenia Price for increasing my knowledge and passion for this beautiful city.
January 25, 2025
This is a very good drama series based in pre Civil War Georgian times. It features a large cast of characters including Robert E Lee and is written by an inspired person. This book three was a little anti climatic for its last quarter which is unfortunate.
I definitely will want to complete the series with book 4 but knowing it will be more about slavery issues is not making me eager to get to it soon. The characters are probably portrayed so well that I can easily relate to certain characters more than the snobbish and unenlightened. I don't have much patience for the stupid people.
I definitely will want to complete the series with book 4 but knowing it will be more about slavery issues is not making me eager to get to it soon. The characters are probably portrayed so well that I can easily relate to certain characters more than the snobbish and unenlightened. I don't have much patience for the stupid people.
February 12, 2020
I've read the first and last of the quartet. This book was in the middle and it was nearly 500 pages of really small print! And even though it was a good read, I already knew what was going to happen to the characters in the end. That's the problem with not reading a series in order--except I've rarely had this problem before. Usually, I can read out-of-order and not feel disappointed. Regardless, I love this author and love her stories which are based on real-life people living during real-life events. I'm a historical fiction lover so as long as I learn something, I'm satisfied.
May 2, 2024
As in any series, I get attached to the characters. No different here. This one was, at times, tedious in its detail and I can tell from reading the afterword, that this is due to the authors intense research. I cannot generally tell which are actual happenings, except in the broadest sense of history. I'll complete this series and hope the 4th book is as good as the 2nd.
April 17, 2022
It’s hard to Phaethon that I would rate one of her novels two stars. But, this novel was very slow and boring.
Written on 1987 I’m reading it a little over two decades. I read a lot of Civil War Southern history and although this novel was common material for me it didn’t grab me.
Written on 1987 I’m reading it a little over two decades. I read a lot of Civil War Southern history and although this novel was common material for me it didn’t grab me.
March 20, 2023
Savannah Quartet #3
Love Savannah and love history! The families are real and do are their experiences and the history of these times. Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction based on true historical facts and the events these families experienced.
Love Savannah and love history! The families are real and do are their experiences and the history of these times. Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction based on true historical facts and the events these families experienced.
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September 6, 2023Very good, but very in-depth account of life in Georgia in the mid-1800s. Very well-written and holds your attention. Much discussion about the political topics of the era, including slavery and westward expandion.
July 18, 2019
Fun summer reread from years ago.
July 28, 2021
The Stiles family are a pretentious unlikable lot and there is far too much political meandering for my taste.
August 22, 2025
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but felt the Stiles’ time in Vienna really bogged down the book.
August 26, 2015
Definitely my favorite so far in this quartet. Maybe that's because it deals with one of my favorite eras in history, beginning in the 1840s and extending through the Civil War, although the conclusion of the series is in the 4th book dealing with the Civil War. There is so much happening in this book, both with the characters and the times they live in, and it makes it more enjoyable knowing that this is all based on truth....these people were actual people and the books are based on what really happened to them. This helps to explain why one of the characters, who you expect to play a major role since he is in the Army, remains in the background....can't say any more because of spoilers! The author does a masterful job of making us feel what the characters are feeling and being right there with them. I found it especially meaningful and sad as the tension builds between North and South and people become extremely defensive and far less tolerant of those who differ with their opinions. It brought home to me just how tragic the Civil War was but also made it clear why it was necessary. I'm looking forward to the fourth book.
March 28, 2015
Book 3 of the Savannah Quartet begins about a year after book 2 (To see your face again) ends. Natalie has returned to Cass County having learned the basics for housekeeping and is ready to settle in as a frontier wife. Back in Savannah, the Mackay and Browning families continue their lives as wealthy citizens. When it is learned the Natalie is pregnant, they are thrilled but Mark and Caroline can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. The family decides to make a trip north and are met immediately with tragedy. Out of it, though, a new love blossoms, but one which could tear Savannah apart. Meanwhile, political tensions are rising moving the nation closer and closer to civil war.
I'm really enjoying her books and the historical aspects of them are a bonus. I find it rather fun to read about Robert E. Lee in the years before he was a General and to find him referred to as Bob. I appreciate all the historical research that went in to this. It gives insights into what was going on in the nation at that time. I'm looking forward to finishing the series.
I'm really enjoying her books and the historical aspects of them are a bonus. I find it rather fun to read about Robert E. Lee in the years before he was a General and to find him referred to as Bob. I appreciate all the historical research that went in to this. It gives insights into what was going on in the nation at that time. I'm looking forward to finishing the series.
August 1, 2012
I had forgotten about Eugenia Price...I read a couple of her books a long time ago. I was at a yard sale and found this one...and then forgot I had it. I just found it so I'm about to start reading!
I just finished the book. It was OK - a little mushy for me. I did enjoy the references to Georgia....some I am familier with. That made the story much more interesting. I didn't think the book ended well. I felt as though it was unfinished.
I just finished the book. It was OK - a little mushy for me. I did enjoy the references to Georgia....some I am familier with. That made the story much more interesting. I didn't think the book ended well. I felt as though it was unfinished.
January 12, 2008
More of what the civil war was all about and how it affected the lives of the people of Savannah...The darkness was not only the coming of the war, but the darkness in the minds of the slave owners, and the sacrifice of the slave owners who were christians and freed their slaves...the ridicule they endured.
October 5, 2015
I have read recently: "You live what you believe. Everything else is just religious talk."
However, I read over twenty years ago: "... that the way a person lives is the only way we can judge the depth or shallowness of that person's faith." Eliza Anne in 'Before the Darkness Falls' by Eugenia Price.
However, I read over twenty years ago: "... that the way a person lives is the only way we can judge the depth or shallowness of that person's faith." Eliza Anne in 'Before the Darkness Falls' by Eugenia Price.
December 1, 2007
Third volume in the Savannah Quartet, concentrating on the days leading up to the Civil War.
January 10, 2009
This was the best book in the series. The tension of the Civil War build-up grips throughout the novel, again as memory serves.
July 12, 2009
This series introduced me to Historical Fiction. It has been years since I have read it. I had all the books (hardback) except one, and passed them on to my mom
October 18, 2013
As the civil war approaches...
June 16, 2013
Yep......keep them coming not boring....moves with the war.....side love interest worthy.
October 29, 2013
I previously had read Savannah.. and am glad I somehow ended up with this.. I love historical books.. and this was good.. just enough romance.. just enough history.
January 12, 2014
Loved it!
July 17, 2015
She brought history alive
March 29, 2018
Read as a newly married romantic <3 Not newly married - now “oldly” married and Still Romantic <3
August 29, 2007
Note: Savannah Quartet Book 2
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September 17, 2008F Pri
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews