When the World Shook Being an Account of the Great Adventure of Bastin, Bickley and Arbuthnot

Humphrey Arbuthnot opens a tale steeped in the English countryside, painting his world with the tranquil beauty of Devon’s rolling hills, ancient priory gardens, and distant sea. A son of a vicar and heir to a modest estate, he reflects on childhood dreams of ownership, the changing fortunes of his neighbors, and the quiet rhythms of village life that shape his steady, thoughtful character.

When the ordinary gives way to the extraordinary, Arbuthnot meets the intrepid explorers Bastin and Bickley, whose restless spirits pull the trio toward a mysterious cyclone and an uncharted island hidden in a remote lake. There, enigmatic locals and strange tombs whisper of ages past, and the adventurers find themselves caught between ancient prophecy and unknown dangers. As the first act unfolds, the narrative blends crisp Victorian observation with a mounting sense of wonder, inviting listeners to follow a journey that promises both peril and revelation.