Book cover of The Summer Before the War

Book description

'Helen Simonson's characters enchant us, her English countryside beguiles us, and her historical intelligence keeps us at the edge of our seats.' - Annie Barrows, co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.East Sussex, 1914. It's the end of an idyllic summer and Hugh Grange, down from his…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Summer Before the War as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is leisurely, reminiscent of Elizabeth Gaskell’s works (such as North and South or Wives and Daughters); it reads and feels like a warm summer day. It takes place in a small English town in the tense and uncertain months leading up to the war and a little beyond, featuring family dramas, romantic entanglements, spunky schoolteachers, Belgian refugees, underage recruits, life, and death, and love.

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Elizabeth Sydney’s film career spanned the Golden Age of Hollywood and barely survived the hunt for communists driven by Sen. Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee that produced a blacklist that shattered careers.

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