
A weary soldier steps off a rattling train at Kemble, the crisp Cotswold air filling his lungs as he greets the familiar hills and stone roofs of his home county. The carriage doors close behind a mix of weary comrades and a kindly old porter, each carrying their own stories of war and longing. In the twilight, the landscape—golden fields, beech woods, and the whisper of village names—offers a quiet, almost reverent welcome that feels like a balm for battle‑scarred hearts.
The narrative follows a handful of characters—young lads, seasoned veterans, and the steadfast folk who tend the countryside—who gather around the station, sharing news, laughter, and the simple pleasure of a shared drink. Their conversations reveal a deep, almost lyrical affection for the land that raised them, hinting at the intertwining lives that will unfold in the villages and farms beyond the tracks. Listeners will be drawn into a portrait of post‑war England where home, memory, and the enduring spirit of the Cotswolds blend together in gentle, heartfelt prose.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (356K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2014-07-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1863–1933
An English novelist and playwright with a gift for warm, observant storytelling, she wrote popular fiction in the late Victorian and early 20th-century years. Her work also reached the stage, and one of her plays, Marigold, was later adapted for film.
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