Beatrice herself is not immune to some of these provincial prejudices, although she is open to enlightenment.Ī small clan of Romanies also lives in a camp outside Rye. Hugh, who is studying to become a surgeon, is more responsible, considerate, and sober in mien.īeatrice soon discovers that the small and conservative town of Rye is full of persons even more unconventional (for the time) than Agatha, all of whom struggle with the deception necessary to remain in the town, some more successfully than others. Daniel is quite handsome, but arty and affected he wants to write poetry and perhaps even start a poetry journal. Nevertheless, she is being promoted as a teacher by Agatha Kent, a kind and eccentric woman in favor of women’s subtle advancement, at least, as long as the woman isn’t too attractive.Īgatha has two appealing nephews, Daniel Bookham and Hugh Grange. Beatrice is not looking to get married she is determined to maintain her independence, and even aspires to be a writer, another occupation frowned upon for women. It is set in the summer of 1914 in a small British town, where 23-year-old Beatrice Nash, having recently lost her father, is coming to take a job teaching Latin in the local grammar school.

This lovely story captivated me right away.

The summer before the war book