This first edition hardcover is near fine, no marks, pages are tight and unmarked, the book is tight, square, and unmarked. The dust cover is near fine, brown cloth boards, and bright gilt lettering on the spine of the book. The Plains of Passage is a historical fiction novel by Jean M. Auel, published in 1990. It is the fourth book in her Earth’s Children series, which is set in prehistoric Europe during the Upper Paleolithic period, around 30,000 years ago. The series follows the life of Ayla, a young woman with extraordinary survival skills and abilities, as she navigates life among early human societies.