Gone with the Wind is one of the world's best-selling novels. The novel revolves around the repercussions of the American Civil War on southern farmers, the rise of industrial society with the imposition of victorious values, the emancipation of slaves, and the collapse of feudal society. The novel explores the impact of this on individuals through intertwined love stories centered around the Southern heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, who falls in love with a southern heir, Ashley Wilkes. The love she receives is unconditional, and she marries Charles Hamilton, the brother of Wilkes's wife, Melanie, to stay close to her lover. Then comes the adventurous hero, Rhett Butler, who loves Scarlett. She only realizes this at the end, after he leaves her, despite her marriage. This famous novel was adapted into a blockbuster film that achieved tremendous success, ranking fourth on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest films.