America, 1874. In a country that has recently gone through the Civil War, the paths of peaceful citizens, soldiers, wanderers, and refugees intersect. Twelve-year-old ConaLi is forced to travel with her mother, who hasn’t uttered a word for more than a year. Pretending to be a lady and her servant, they find shelter in a psychiatric clinic. The calm of the residents of this place is protected by an injured soldier who has lost his memory—the Night Watch. Jane Ann Phillips’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is not only a penetrating historical drama, but also an ode to mercy and a deep exploration of women’s vulnerability and resilience in a world shaken by violence. Combining a poetic style with documentary accuracy, the author investigates the fragility of the human soul and shows the healing power of compassion.