
A vivid tableau opens the tale, where a once‑blood‑stained field slowly reclaims its peace. The narrative paints the lingering ghosts of war—scarred earth, half‑buried sheaves, and the lingering scent of wilted flowers—while nature’s larks and swallows begin to stitch the landscape back together. As seasons turn, the once‑violent ground becomes a quiet backdrop for everyday life, hinting at the resilience of both land and memory.
Amid this reborn countryside, a tentative romance blossoms between two young souls whose lives intersect in the fields of harvest. Their tender encounters unfold against the lingering whispers of history, offering a gentle contrast to the harshness that preceded them. The story balances the lingering shadows of conflict with the hopeful promise of love, inviting listeners to linger on the simple, enduring moments that heal both heart and hearth.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (170K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, eagkw and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2012-09-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1812–1870
One of the great storytellers of the Victorian age, he turned childhood hardship, sharp observation, and a gift for unforgettable characters into novels that still feel lively and human. His books blend humor, suspense, and social criticism in a way that continues to draw in new readers.
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