Short Synopsis
Judith Kinghorn presents a beautiful and haunting story of lost innocence and powerful, enduring love, in her sweepingly epic and gloriously intimate debut.

Full Synopsis
Clarissa is almost seventeen when the spell of her childhood is broken. It is 1914, the beginning of a blissful, golden summer—and the end of an era. Deyning Park is in its heyday, the large country house filled with the laughter and excitement of privileged youth preparing for a weekend party. When Clarissa meets Tom Cuthbert, home from university and staying with his mother, the housekeeper, she is dazzled. Tom is handsome and enigmatic; he is also an outsider. Ambitious, clever, his sights set on a career in law, Tom is an acute observer, and a man who knows what he wants. For now, that is Clarissa. As Tom and Clarissa's friendship deepens, the wider landscape of political life around them is changing, and another story unfolds: they are not the only people in love. Soon the world—and all that they know—is rocked by a war that changes their lives forever.

"The narration is excellent, with Jane Wymark transforming Clarissa from a naive girl of 15 to a rushed maturity and then a postwar weariness." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"A sumptuous, absorbing tale of love in time of war." ---Rachel Hore, author of A Place of Secrets

"Irresistible . . . sensuous prose, elegant settings and fascinating characters." ---Margaret Wurtele, author of The Golden Hour

"A wonderful and heartbreaking love story. . . . Highly recommended!" ---One More Page

"Judith Kinghorn skillfully navigates our journey through love and loss. . . . This is the perfect balance of romance and grit by a great new writer. Don't miss it!" ---The Riddle of Writing

"[Wymark] successfully delivers smooth, accurate renditions of numerous European accents. Special effects highlight phone conversations and the content of letters, while Wymark's steady, haunting portrayal of Clarissa reflects the culture and mores of those left behind during the war." ---AudioFile