The story in one page
Lieutenant Newton Norcliff finds his military career interrupted by the looming Crimean War and his illicit romance with Louisa Loftus. With Lord Slubber de Gullion vying for Louisa's hand under the blessing of her aristocratic parents, Newton must balance his regiment’s deployment with the preservation of his future. From the barracks at Maidstone to the frozen trenches of the East, he survives cholera, brutal combat, and the charge into the Valley of Death. Back home, he navigates the complex inheritance laws of the Scottish estates, finally securing his land and a new life with Cora, leaving behind the ghosts of the campaign.
Who's who
- Newton Norcliff
A cavalry subaltern recounting his military service and romantic pursuits.
- Louisa Loftus
The object of Newton's affection trapped by parental expectations.
- Lord Slubber de Gullion
An elderly, unappealing suitor favored by Louisa's parents.
- Cora
Newton's eventual wife who inherits the Calderwood Glen estates.
- Willie Pitblado
Newton's loyal servant who remains with the family long-term.
What it's really about
- Class barriers
- Aristocratic pressure dictates marital prospects.
- Wartime mortality
- Disease and combat claim many soldiers.
Why it's memorable
- The protagonist finding a French nursing sister dying in a cholera-ridden olive grove.
- Children playing near the glen while the father recalls fallen comrades from the Crimea.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The family lives in comfort at Calderwood Glen, consistently raising a glass to the brave men who perished in the Crimean trenches.
For your book club
- How does the author balance the romantic subplots with the harsh military reality?
- The transition from the battlefield to the domesticity of the Scottish glen.