"Backwater" is the second volume of Dorothy Richardson's groundbreaking "Pilgrimage" series, which explores the life of Miriam Henderson, a character deeply rooted in the author's own experiences. Set against the backdrop of a girls' school in North London, Miriam grapples with societal expectations around marriage, religion, and happiness while seeking to expand her understanding of the world. Richardson's innovative use of stream-of-consciousness, or "interior monologue," captures the complexity of female experience, making her work a significant contribution to feminist literature.