The Summer Before the War: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A novel to cure your Downton Abbey withdrawal . . . a delightful story about nontraditional romantic relationships, class snobbery and the everybody-knows-everybody complications of living in a small community.”—The Washington Post
The bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand returns with a breathtaking novel of love on the eve of World War I that reaches far beyond the small English town in which it is set.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND NPR
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 saber 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.
Praise for The Summer Before the War
“What begins as a study of a small-town society becomes a compelling account of war and its aftermath.”—Woman’s Day
“This witty character study of how a small English town reacts to the 1914 arrival of its first female teacher offers gentle humor wrapped in a hauntingly detailed story.”—Good Housekeeping
“Perfect for readers in a post–Downton Abbey slump . . . The gently teasing banter between two kindred spirits edging slowly into love is as delicately crafted as a bone-china teacup. . . . More than a high-toned romantic reverie for Anglophiles—though it serves the latter purpose, too.”—The Seattle Times
The bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand returns with a breathtaking novel of love on the eve of World War I that reaches far beyond the small English town in which it is set.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND NPR
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 saber 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.
Praise for The Summer Before the War
“What begins as a study of a small-town society becomes a compelling account of war and its aftermath.”—Woman’s Day
“This witty character study of how a small English town reacts to the 1914 arrival of its first female teacher offers gentle humor wrapped in a hauntingly detailed story.”—Good Housekeeping
“Perfect for readers in a post–Downton Abbey slump . . . The gently teasing banter between two kindred spirits edging slowly into love is as delicately crafted as a bone-china teacup. . . . More than a high-toned romantic reverie for Anglophiles—though it serves the latter purpose, too.”—The Seattle Times
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
473 pages
What’s it about?
This novel takes place in Rye, England in 1914 and centers around Beatrice Nash. Beatrice is young, single and trying to find her way after the death of her father. She arrives in Rye to teach Latin to the local schoolchildren. The Edwardian lifestyle depicted in this novel will change drastically after World War 1. This novel transports us to 1914 and gives us a glimpse into what it was to live in a small countryside village in England at the brink of war.
What did it make me think about?
This book is so charming- and managing to write a charming book is a real talent. Ms. Simonson manages to charm you with her English cast of characters at the same time she is teaching you about a different era. Most importantly this is a universal story about war, and what a tragedy it is at any time.
Should I read it?
Yes! If you enjoyed "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" then be warned that this latest novel by Helen Simonson is somewhat different. This book has a large cast of characters, and the plot moves at a little slower pace (Beatrice doesn't actually start teaching until 2/3 of the way through the book). However it is a wonderful novel filled with characters that you will want to spend a few days with. Think Downton Abby in a novel... It does start out slowly, but Beatrice, Uncle John, Aunt Agatha, Hugh, Daniel, Snout and the rest make the pages move right along. I will miss Rye in 1914!
Quote-
"An unworthy concern flickered through her mind that Cook might now take to being absent without warning, burning gravy because of tiredness, bringing her granddaughter with her to get underfoot in the kitchen. Agatha was forced to consider whether her sympathetic interest in her staff's families might have more to do with appearing generous than with any willingness to be inconvenienced by their actual problems."
If you liked this try-
The Love Song of Miss Queen Hennesy by Rachel Joyce
A Man Called Ove by Frederic Backman
The Tower, The Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
473 pages
What’s it about?
This novel takes place in Rye, England in 1914 and centers around Beatrice Nash. Beatrice is young, single and trying to find her way after the death of her father. She arrives in Rye to teach Latin to the local schoolchildren. The Edwardian lifestyle depicted in this novel will change drastically after World War 1. This novel transports us to 1914 and gives us a glimpse into what it was to live in a small countryside village in England at the brink of war.
What did it make me think about?
This book is so charming- and managing to write a charming book is a real talent. Ms. Simonson manages to charm you with her English cast of characters at the same time she is teaching you about a different era. Most importantly this is a universal story about war, and what a tragedy it is at any time.
Should I read it?
Yes! If you enjoyed "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" then be warned that this latest novel by Helen Simonson is somewhat different. This book has a large cast of characters, and the plot moves at a little slower pace (Beatrice doesn't actually start teaching until 2/3 of the way through the book). However it is a wonderful novel filled with characters that you will want to spend a few days with. Think Downton Abby in a novel... It does start out slowly, but Beatrice, Uncle John, Aunt Agatha, Hugh, Daniel, Snout and the rest make the pages move right along. I will miss Rye in 1914!
Quote-
"An unworthy concern flickered through her mind that Cook might now take to being absent without warning, burning gravy because of tiredness, bringing her granddaughter with her to get underfoot in the kitchen. Agatha was forced to consider whether her sympathetic interest in her staff's families might have more to do with appearing generous than with any willingness to be inconvenienced by their actual problems."
If you liked this try-
The Love Song of Miss Queen Hennesy by Rachel Joyce
A Man Called Ove by Frederic Backman
The Tower, The Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
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