A historical romance set in northern Georgia during the drama of the Civil War and Reconstruction years, *Gone with the Wind* traces the life of the ruthless Scarlett O'Hara and her relationships with Rhett Butler, and Ashley and Melanie Wilkes. The novel addresses themes such as survival, romantic love, and how societies structure gender and class. Published in 1936, the epic novel of love and war, Gone with the Wind became an immediate bestseller, bringing to the first-time novelist Margaret Mitchell an overwhelming amount of critical and popular attention. The novel was awarded the Pulit