Barriers Burned Away

Barriers Burned Away, published in 1872, is a dramatic romance set against the backdrop of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Edward Payson Roe weaves a tale of personal redemption and social awakening as a skeptical young artist and a virtuous woman confront loss, love, and faith amid catastrophe. Combining vivid historical detail with moral and religious themes, Roe’s novel captured the imagination of 19th-century readers and became one of his most popular works, exemplifying his style of inspirational fiction.