First published in 1965, The Millstone tells the story of Rosamund Stacey, who gets pregnant after a one night stand when she loses her virginity. An academic, Rosamund socialises in liberal, literary circles but has been secretly reserved about sex as well as feeling social guilt. When she discovers she is pregnant, she decides to keep the baby despite society's expectation for her to have an abortion as a single mother carrying an illegitimate child. Giving birth to a daughter, she is forced to adapt to life as a single mother - finding herself transformed in the process.