In writing the novel, Holtby – an ardent feminist, socialist and pacifist – drew on the experiences of her mother, Alice Holtby, the first woman to be appointed to the position of alderman on East Riding County Council.

Half a chapter of romance that made me well up with an undescribable churning in heart is a testament to Holtby's brilliance. In some ways I wish I’d discovered it as a young girl, closer in age to Lydia Holly than I am these days. Winifred Holtby (23 Jun 1898 - 29 Sep 1935) was an English novelist and journalist, now best known for her novel "South Riding", which was posthumously published in 1936. I think it’s that optimism in the face of poverty and adversity that makes it such an inspirational read.

Sarah knows that Lydia Holly is by far the best prospect the school has to offer – pupils like Lydia only come along once in a lifetime – but she is also aware that family responsibilities may scupper the girl’s future. At The Nag’s Head, Lily Sawdon knows she is dying of cancer, too frightened to confide in her husband for fear of his reaction; at the Carnes’ farm, foreman Castle is very poorly, unlikely to see another season in the fields of the estate; in the council, Jo Astell, Sarah’s altruistic socialist ally, is battling with tuberculosis.

There's a lot going on in this book, and Holtby has a clean style that keeps the story moving and focused on the most interesting moments in the characters' lives. The loss must have been heartbreaking for Vera Brittain, particularly in light what happened to her loved ones during the war.Shetakes the mundane workings of local government and makes of them, perhaps surprisingly, an unforgettable fictional world. Most versions of the cover feature Sarah Burton, the fiery, progressive new headmistress at the local girls' school, and she's one of the most important characters, but there are others: the elderly alderwoman, Mrs. As opposed to Rochester and Maxim de Winter, he on the one hand not only married for love but is still in love with the mad wife in question, but on the other also bears and acknowledges guilt direct responsibility for her state of being.