An autobiographical novel of the Great War's aftermath, "Plumes" is the story of the personal trials of a soldier, returned from the front disabled and disillusioned, and of the wife and child he left behind. Richard Plume is a U.S. Marine whose combat injuries ultimately cost him a leg and much faith in his government and society. The novel relegates combat scenes to flashbacks and centers instead on the struggles Richard faces as he tries to carve out a humble but honest existence for his family in postwar Washington, D.C. Through Richard's tragic experiences, Stallings captures the tenor of the times, the faults and corruption inherent in the administration of veterans' aid, the economic crises faced by returned soldiers, and the personal and social hardships foisted on families in these circumstances. In the latter effort, Esme emerges as the novel's hero, the steadfast wife and mother who must shore up a life shattered by war. "Plumes" was first published in 1924 and reprinted nine times by the following year.
This edition is augmented with a new introduction by George Garrett assessing Stallings's literary career and critical reception and with a new afterword by Steven Trout contextualizing the medical and political realities of the novel.

Introduction by: George Garrett
Afterword by: Steven Trout