It is 1916 and England is still at war with Germany. When
the young men from England first marched into battle, they
expected a quick rout and they would be home again.
Instead, many, far too many young men are killed or maimed
and their minds changed by all the horrors they see.
As a nurse serving in France, Libby Danforth treats them
all, regardless of class. She has been taking care of the
wounded for so long, she almost forgets what her lovely
home in Lancashire looks like. Why the fuss then about
this American pilot that has been sent to their convent
hospital for treatment? With all the deserving wounded
nearby, Libby definitely isn't going to take any nonsense
from him.
Meanwhile at Aston Park, the family estate, Libby's
parents, Sir Michael and Lady Elizabeth, attempt to carry
on with their class and Church of England traditions as
much as they possibly can, despite having their oldest son,
Edward, in the Royal Navy and their other two boys, Kipp in
the Royal Air Force and their youngest, Robbie, serving in
the British Army in Ireland. The Danforths also have three
other daughters: Emma, Catherine and Victoria, the
youngest and most headstrong. Sir William Danforth is a
little different from others in his class as he is in
favour of Home Rule for the Irish and, while strict and
very religious, often recognizes the importance of
celebrating special events and blessings in the life of his
family.
Used to being loved and pampered by her large and extended
family, Victoria is quite accustomed to getting her own way
and enjoys thumbing her nose at tradition by joining in on
suffrage marches for the right to vote. When she falls in
love with the handsome Ben Whitecross, she doesn't care a
fig that he is the family coach driver and groom, she just
wants to be with him. But, her sneaking into the stables
has not gone unnoticed. Little did Victoria and Ben
realize how high the stakes would be when others voiced
their disapproval. What would happen to them?
ASTON PARK is the first book in a new series written by
Canadian author Murray Pura about the very wealthy and
privileged life of the Danforths of Lancashire and the
folks who serve their household. The series opens in April
1916 on Maundy Thursday just before Easter weekend
foreshadowing the Easter Rising in Ireland during
World War I and the related events that follow as a result.
It
is a very ambitiously written historical family saga as
there is a large cast of characters aside from the twelve
members of the Danforth family itself. While the writing is
uneven at times, the story development is nicely linked in
to many lesser known repercussions from real events that
form a backdrop to the story. Pura skillfully builds on
the tensions of the times from early dogfights with
Germans over the fields in France to the religious
tensions and battles increasingly happening in Ireland
and in Palestine. While not wanting to give spoilers, it
is a very intriguing novel of highlighting how religious
differences can divide and gravely hurt the people
involved, while also demonstrating how faith and belief
can help people surmount overwhelming odds!
As noted on the book cover, if you're a fan of Downton
Abbey, this book is sure to appeal to you! As a fan of
historical stories about life above and below the stairs,
it certainly worked for me! I can't wait for BENEATH THE
DOVER SKY, the next book in the series to be released in
August 2013! Enjoy!
Among the green hills and trees of Lancashire, only a few
miles from the sea, lies the beautiful and ancient estate of
Ashton Park.
The year is 1916. The First World War has engulfed Europe
and Sir William's and Lady Elizabeth's three sons are all in
uniform--and their four daughters are involved in various
pursuits of the heart and soul.
As the head of a strong Church of England family for
generations, Sir William insists the Danforth estate hold
morning devotions that include both family and staff.
However, he is also an MP and away at Westminster in London
whenever Parliament is sitting. During his long absences,
Lady Elizabeth discreetly spends time in the company of the
head cook of the manor, Mrs. Longstaff, who is her best
friend and confidante. This friendship includes visits to a
small Baptist church in Liverpool that exposes Lady
Elizabeth to a less formal approach to Christian worship and
preaching than she is used to and which she comes to enjoy.
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