I picked up a copy of the above book in a second hand book store (while on holiday). As I really enjoyed Larkrise to Candleford both the novel and the recent BBC adaptation, I thought I would like this one as well.
From a social history point of view it is really interesting – the period detail is fabulous and not many novels are written about agricultural labourers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, the book was dull and I struggled to finish it. The characters didn’t seem as compelling as in Larkrise to Candleford and it was written in a sentimental manner that didn’t appeal to me.