Mourning in the Elysian Fields is the coming-of-age story of Corrine, a young girl whose mixed heritage gives her access to a side of life that is denied to her mother. Corrine has been borne into the world of the Winchesters, Gilded Age shipping scions whose dynasty started with Sir James Winchester, the financier of an early rebellion in the fledgling colonies. It has taken three generations to create the Winchester Dynasty, and Roger Winchester, the only heir to the fortune, is an exception to the rule of divide and conquer. Betty and Ezra run the domestic side of the Winchester estate. They are the guardians of the Winchester Curse, a cross currents of events that mixed bloodlines and altered the meaning of the land and sea. Their responsibility is to make sure that Roger Winchester enjoys the inheritance of his dying father, a curse that was fomented during the 16th Century pirate revolts. It is Betty’s dream to start a nautical empire based on the collapse of the Winchesters. She plans to do this with Jeremiah and Jacob, former whalers who are partners in a marine market that is considered an underground navy yard. They plan to sail their wooden vessels into the modern era of the 20th Century and break the bonds of the Winchester Curse. Mourning in the Elysian Fields is also the story of the Black Mariners who once made up 20% of America’s maritime fleet.