Publisher's Synopsis
In a small town near the heart of England, the aftermath of the Second World War brings change. For ambitious industrialist Charles Freeman, it brings new opportunities and marriage to Mary. He buys the big house on the hill to cement their union and nail his aspirations to the future.
Three sons and a daughter sow the seeds of joy and tragedy. Simon, large and ebullient, follows his father into the business; the photographer, James, documents the town; wilful Robert immerses himself in its darker aspects; and Alice is transformed into a picture of convention when she succumbs to the attentions of Harry Singh, grocer's boy-turned-property entrepreneur. Together their stories create a generous epic, a rich hymn to the death and rebirth of middle England. At its heart is a diverse cast of characters whose various attempts to break free are chronicled in a compelling narrative of power and resonance.
