Joanna Godden

In the windswept marshes of Sussex and Kent, a young woman named Joanna wrestles with the stubborn rhythms of a landscape that seems to shape the very heart of its people. The novel opens on a rainy October day, as a funeral procession arrives at the modest Ansdore Farm, revealing Joanna’s fierce independence and her sharp, often brusque, sense of propriety. Through vivid descriptions of the flat, sea‑kissed pastures and the tight‑knit village life, the story immerses listeners in a world where the land is both a livelihood and a relentless test of character.

As Joanna navigates the expectations of her family, the local community, and the demanding world of sheep farming, she discovers that strength can be both a shield and a burden. The narrative follows her daily battles—whether with a stubborn child refusing to remove a hat or with the unyielding demands of the marsh itself—offering a portrait of a woman determined to carve her own path amid tradition and change. Listeners will be drawn into her spirited resolve and the haunting beauty of the marshland that frames every choice she makes.