I absolutely love R.F. Dederfield as an author. Not one of his books has disappointed me. If you like a book that relates life in England pre-WWI to WWII, you might enjoy his books. A Horseman Riding By didn't disappoint me and reminded me of his Swann Saga that I didn't want to end.
Paul, a young man of 23, returns from the Boer War with a busted up knee ventured off to buy a country estate with seven farms and an equal amount of odd little country farmers. This city boy who turns his back on the city and his father's very profitable iron and metal scrap business, takes to the land and never looks back.
After a failed marriage of two years or so to a Woman Suffragette radical, Paul remarries and builds again. He navigates through the farmers' problems with ease.
WWI breaks out and takes the young men of the Valley, his six children grow up to face the outbreak of WWII but the Valley holds on to their sense of community and bans together.
This book creates the feel that you are living life with him and all the emotions of loves and regret. The simplicity of the story with a few jolts here and there make this another one his masterpieces.
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