The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson (one of our March Picks) proved to be a delightful piece of historical fiction set during a time of transition in a coastal town in England.
Goodreads offers the following summary:
East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent sabre rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.
When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking — and attractive — than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.
But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha’s reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.
As someone who loved Downton Abbey (through its ups and downs), I found the setting of this book exceptionally appealing. The description of the landscape, the clothes, and the social functions transported me to another world. However, I found the book to be a little long. The writing is beautiful, but I think the story would have benefited from some editing.
I recommend The Summer Before the War to anyone who loves WWI historical fiction and anyone who loves Downton Abbey. Did you get a chance to read it? What did you think?
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)
PS – Join our convo, and get your copy of The Summer Before the War here.