Rowan Head is the story of Miriam Chase who comes to the home of the Camerons, once prominent Maine shipbuilders, to serve as nurse to widowed Felice Cameron who since the death of her husband had retreated into an unreal world. In a household overcast by tragedy and hatred, there is the fierce discord between two of the three sons; Barth, who is attempting to start a new shipyard-and to bring his mother back to sanity; Giles, a rotter, who is ready to sell his family out and Rowan Head from under them; David, who escaped the taunts and terror of his childhood into a world of his own
