
In a secluded valley where meadow and sea meet, Springhaven offers a portrait of tranquil English country life on the brink of upheaval. The narrative opens with vivid descriptions of the lush landscape, the gentle brook that feeds a peaceful harbor, and the proud Darling family that has long guarded the village’s quiet gate. Through the eyes of young Horatia Darling, readers glimpse a world where duty to the coast and the rhythms of nature coexist, hinting at the looming tensions of a nation on the edge of war.
As the summer of 1802 wanes, the calm is tinged with the distant rumble of a conflict that threatens to shatter the valley’s serenity. Horatia’s solitary wanderings and her father’s role in coastal defense set the stage for personal and communal challenges, promising a tale where loyalty, love, and the harsh realities of a coming conflict will test the bonds that have long held Springhaven together.
Language
en
Duration
~18 hours (1078K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Don Lainson; David Widger
Release date
2006-06-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1825–1900
Best known for the classic novel Lorna Doone, this Victorian storyteller mixed romance, adventure, and a strong sense of the English countryside. He also drew on years of working the land, which gave his fiction an unusually vivid feel for rural life.
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