"Backwater" is the second volume of Dorothy Richardson's groundbreaking "Pilgrimage" series, which explores the life of Miriam Henderson, a character inspired by the author's own experiences. Set against the backdrop of a girls' school in North London, Miriam grapples with societal expectations surrounding marriage, religion, and happiness, all while seeking her own identity in a rapidly changing world. Richardson's innovative use of "interior monologue" captures the complexities of female experience in a way that remains strikingly relevant today.