The Summer before the War

 Author : Helen Simonson

A very delightful historic fiction, The summer before the war is set in a small provincial English town Rye, which borders Belgium. The story is centered around feisty independent Beatrice Nash, who arrives in Rye after the death of her scholarly father. Her outlook is progressive and she wishes to carve a place in this world, and she seeks a teaching position at Rye. She is welcomed by one of the influential women in the town, Agatha Kent and her two nephews Hugh and Daniel. Beatrice’s progressive outlook is not quite appreciated by the small-town members, where people are in general meddlesome. Everyone in the town is well acquainted with others and it does get difficult to draw a line of discretion on private matters. Unmarried Beatrice faces challenges in every direction, first with a rigid landlady, the town leadership, unwanted suitors and tough pupils.

On the onset of the first world war, when the German soldiers march into Belgium, Rye sees an influx of refugees, the wounded and the homeless. It falls on the small community of Rye to provide shelter to these refugees.

Though all seems well at first, the past of few of the refugees comes to the light and does not escape the scrutiny of the meddlesome folks of Rye. Beatrice stands apart questioning their judgment and is forced to bear the consequences. And eventually Britain partakes in the war. Lives of dear ones is at stake. And Rye pays a very heavy price.

It is a beautiful book, albeit a little slow. It has got all the elements of Austen in it, the nuances of social etiquette, literature, dances, dresses, tea parties and of course the army. In between all this is a slow blooming romance between two kindred spirits who are meant to be with each other, but each trying to serve the world their own way.

The only thing which goes against this book is the length. Nearly 500 pages long, it does drag at places. And at times, there are certain episodes which seem out of place and do not get along with the flow of the book.

But I would love to see a television adaptation made out of this book. I am sure it will be on the lines of Downton Abbey and Persuasion. Austen fans, give this book a try.

Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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