WINIFRED HOLTBY
In the sleepy village of Hardrascliffe Mary Robson has finally paid off the mortgage on her beloved farm Anderby Wold.
Married to her much older and extremely passive cousin John Robson, she has created a name for herself on her own, with ceaseless philanthropy and constant hard-work.
But whilst there are many who adore her, Mary faces opposition from her husbands sister Sarah, whose possessiveness over her brother has caused divisions in the family.
When the socialist David Rossitur visits the village he rouses excitement not only in the workers but with the mistress of Anderby Wold herself.
The farmhands see hope in Rossiturs message and tremors begin to shake the hierarchy that has influenced village life for so long.
And Marys passions are split between her farm and the old ways of operating, and the return of youth through the figure of Mr. Rossitur.
Will Mary continue along the path that she has set herself?
Or will the changing world around her force her hand?
Anderby Wold is a moving twentieth century tale of love, hope and change.
'Courage and vitality blow like a high wind through her story' The Observer
Winifred Holtby (1898-1935) novelist, journalist and critic, was born at Rudstone, Yorkshire. Her remarkable life and tragically early death are movingly portrayed by her close friend Vera Brittain in Testament of Friendship. In this, her first novel, Winifred Holtby exhilaratingly rehearses the themes which were to come to fruition in her last and greatest work, South Riding.
