Age 42, headmistress of her own school, and in a comfortable, if ambiguous, relationship with a respected banker and Union army veteran-Carrie Blaylock was living the independent life she'd dreamed of. Then, in the summer of 1884, came the surprise of her life. It was unheard of for an expectant mother to continue teaching. Women teachers were expected to quit when they married.

Miss Blaylock's School for Girls is the captivating story of a Nashville woman's courageous decision to confront confi ning social norms and maintain her independence. Along the way, Carrie is drawn to the movement that ultimately gives women the right to vote, which culminates with Tennessee, her home state, playing a pivotal role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.