In A Delta Vigil, Claire Feild's sensitive and observant essays capture the bittersweet memories of growing up in Yazoo City, Mississippi, during the 1950s and 60s. She depicts a way of life that seemed tranquil and destined to continue, but this was an illusion because fault lines in the social order were appearing and things were about to change. This book excels both as an appealing memoir and as an authentic representation of family life, race, religion, and the societal expectations placed on refined young women during those times.