The first book in R. F. Delderfield’s bestselling A Horseman Riding By saga of twentieth-century England introduces Paul Craddock, a young war veteran who stakes his future on a neglected country estate in Devon.
After serving his country in the Boer War, injured Lieutenant Paul Craddock returns to England to resume civilian life. But things have changed since he joined the Imperial Yeomanry … joined the Imperial Yeomanry three years ago. His father has died, leaving Paul as heir to a scrap metal business he has no intention of continuing. Instead, he purchases an auctioned-off thirteen-hundred-acre estate in a secluded corner of Devon. Neglected and overgrown, Shallowford becomes the symbol of all that Paul has lost — and a reminder of the gentle place his homeland once was. And here, on this sprawling stretch of land, he will be changed by his love for two women: fiercely independent Grace Lovell, and lovely, demure Claire Derwent.
Set in the English countryside in the first part of the previous century — from the long “Edwardian afternoon” following the death of Queen Victoria, to the gathering storm of World War I — Long Summer Day is the story of a man, his family, and a people struggling to adapt to life in a new world.
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Book #1 of a series – “A horseman Riding By”. Great story of how a man comes to a valley outside of London England and learns to love his life and the people in the valley. His family is established and grow up there during two wars and several generations. All three books are a must read.
It seems ages since I last read anything by Delderfield, but if anything the time since I last read his work has only made me appreciate it more. Long Summer Day, like To Serve Them All My Days, is a leisurely read, and a quintessentially English one at that. Beyond the pacing and prose, the former has in common with the latter that a wounded …
A good historical fiction, good character development. Enjoyed it alot and anxious to get the next book.
always loved this author
Good historical read.
Great descriptions of the countryside in England around WWI. I fell in love with all of the characters.
I found the storyline following the escalation of the suffrage movement very informative. The main storyline is fairly predictable, but entertaining enough for me to buy the rest of the series.
Read all three, Good story.
Wonderfully written, good story. Maybe a bit long, but Delderfield wasn’t known for short stories. Characters were really interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. An interesting look into English life just before the 1st World War. It did seem to end abruptly, but still a good book. I will read the others in the series.
Mr. Delderfield’s books are quite long, but very entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Took a while to get into this book but it was worth it.
a good novel with a thoughtful look at an interesting time: England before WW1