The World Before Them: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)

In a windswept corner of the English coast, the Martins' white‑washed cottage clings to a hill overlooking a quiet sea. The nearby Gothic churchyard, ringed by ancient elms and a dark yew tree, holds generations of graves and serves as the village’s solemn backdrop. A nearby public house draws sailors, smugglers, and locals alike, filling the evenings with gossip, gambling, and the latest news of the war.

Dorothy, the minister’s daughter, wanders these haunted lanes with a mixture of reverence and unease. The gnarled yew above her mother’s grave seems to swallow light, feeding her superstitious dread, yet it also pulls her back to the place she loves. Alongside her sweetheart, Gilbert Rushmere, she finds fleeting joy in seaside walks, shared promises, and the simple beauty of salt‑marshes and riverbanks that surround the hamlet.