The Summer Before the War

A Novel

By: Helen Simonson

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

New York Times best seller

"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 best-selling 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)

©2015 Helen Simonson (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"At once haunting and effervescent, The Summer Before the War demonstrates the sure hand of a master. Helen Simonson's characters enchant us, her English countryside beguiles us, and her historical intelligence keeps us at the edge of our seats. This luminous story of a family, a town, and a world in their final moments of innocence is as lingering and lovely as a long summer sunset." (Annie Barrows, author of The Truth According to Us and coauthor of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society)

"Helen Simonson has outdone herself in this radiant follow-up to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. The provincial town of Rye, East Sussex, in the days just before and after the Great War is so vividly drawn it fairly vibrates. The depth and sensitivity with which she weighs the steep costs and delicate bonds of wartime - and not just for the young men in the trenches, but for every changed life and heart - reveal the full mastery of her storytelling. Simonson is like a Jane Austen for our day and age - she is that good - and The Summer Before the War is nothing short of a treasure." (Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun)

"Narrator Fiona Hardingham breathes life into a huge cast of characters.... She's especially adept with accents; the American author who is trying to downplay his heritage sounds appropriately ambiguous, and a Belgian refugee who speaks halting, heavily accented English is convincing.... This is storytelling at its finest, with a narration to match." (AudioFile)

Great read

Would you listen to The Summer Before the War again? Why?

This is a great book. It drew me in from the start. The characters come alive, story line good. Narrator is excellent too.

Excellent

After reading Major Pettigrew I have searched and anticipated another treasure from Mrs. Simonson and this story lives up to all my expectations! I am sure I will listen to it many times and hope for more!

Well written, well read

I was thoroughly absorbed in this picture of England before the war. The resilience of both men and women facing not only the horrors of war, but also the barriers of class, sexism, intolerance and social injustice. Strong characters, well drawn, show how life was changing as the war approached, and as it wore on. A very satisfying listen.

Fabulous book and audible!

Helen Simonson is an amazing writer who has woven a beautiful story with incredible character development! The people come out of the pages and become real life people with whom I enjoyed spending time with, and some whom I disliked immensely, and cried with and celebrated with! The only bad part of the book was when it ended! This is must read for anyone who loves a beautifully researched and written story that will capture your attention and your heart! Our very discerning book club gave it a five thumbs up out of five and that does not happen often!

Charming WWII Story

It was a lovely story, a bit predictable ending but with rich character development and enough twists along the way to be interesting and entertaining. Would recommend.

Slow start

Initially I had some difficulty getting pulled into the book but as I continued to listen the story captured me. The fact that Sussex and particularly Rye are places I've visited brought the story to life for me.

comfortably old fashioned with polite manner

comfortably old fashioned with polite manner and soft love story. enjoyed the simplicity and graciousness.

A Good, Solid Book!

This was a very enjoyable book to read although there was a lot of sadness in it. This would make a good Downton Abbey type production for PBS. I hope they do one!

Sophomore Slump

I'm not sure why, but this book just didn't keep me engaged, until the last 2-3 hours ( and, for a 15 hour listen, that's a long struggle to keep listening). The author's first book, "Major Pettigrews Last Stand" was charming, the characters warm and sympathetic. Maybe that's what I found lacking here; there is really no one who captures the heart and interest of the reader. The only character who came close was Snout, and *spoiler* he comes to a tragic end. I can't falter the narration, it was quite good. This just didn't live up to the high standard of "Major Pettigrew".

Wonderful!

Every now and then my inner Anglophile, the one who loves Austen, Trollope and Gaskell, demands a solid British novel. One with humorous social commentary as well as a pastoral setting. This book fit the bill!

Beatrice is hired to teach Latin in the small seaside town of Rye just before the start of the first World War. As with many great British novels, the town is full of social champions and villains, examples of moral fortitude and hypocrisy. Simonson handles all with a deft but light touch, humorously shedding light on all of societies best and worst qualities as members reject or conform to strict social norms and morays. As I read I was strongly reminded of A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book- a book I adored. Both capture the limitations for women of this time, but also the possibilities around the corner. And both are strong stories in their own right, regardless of the social statements they may make along the way.