Long Summer Day was a long summer read, but I enjoyed every minute of it! First published in 1966, this is the first part of RF Delderfield’s A Horseman Riding By trilogy (originally just two books rather than three, as this one and Post of Honour were intended to form one huge volume; the final book, The Green Gauntlet, came a few years later).
Long Summer Day begins in 1902, early in the reign of King Edward VII, and ends in 1911, shortly after the coronation of his successor, George V. The novel takes its title from the fact that this period of history, coming just before the horrors of the First World War, came to be looked back on with nostalgia and described as the ‘Long Edwardian Summer’. Set in rural Devon, it follows the story of Paul Craddock, a young man who is injured during the Boer War and, with his military career at an end, decides to use his inheritance from his father to buy an estate in the countryside.
At first the inhabitants of the Sorrel Valley are suspicious of their new Squire, but through his efforts to befriend and understand them, Paul quickly earns their respect and acceptance. As he gets to know each of the families who live in and around the valley, we, the reader, have a chance to get to know them all too. It’s a very large cast and at first it’s hard to keep track of who’s who, but eventually each character, however minor, becomes a fully formed human being and is given a storyline of his or her own.
I can’t mention all of the characters here, but some that I found particularly memorable include Ikey Palfrey, the stableboy Paul informally adopts and sends to school; Will Codsall and Elinor Willoughby, a young couple whose marriage forms one of the novel’s first small dramas; the agent John Rudd who manages the estate and provides Paul with both advice and friendship; and Hazel Potter, the wild youngest daughter of one of the valley’s most notorious families. In such a tight-knit community, the stories of each of these characters and many more are closely intertwined so that the actions of one may have repercussions on the lives of the others.
As an eligible young bachelor, Paul attracts the attention of several of his female neighbours almost from the moment he arrives in Devon, but only two come to play an important role in his life. One of them is Claire Derwent, daughter of one of his tenant farmers, and the other is Grace Lovell, a cousin of the family who previously owned Shallowford, Paul’s estate. Grace is a fiercely independent person, a feminist who believes passionately in women’s suffrage. I felt that I should like her, but although I did admire her strength and courage, her prickly nature made it difficult for me to warm to her. Claire, though, I loved from the start – and my opinion of her never changed. Although she has little interest in politics and keeps herself busy with more domestic tasks, it’s clear that she is happy with this and that it’s her choice. I found her sensible, down-to-earth, kind-hearted and a strong person too, although not in the same way as Grace. To discover which of these women Paul chooses, you’ll have to read the book for yourself!
The personal stories of the characters are played out against a backdrop of events from Edwardian history: Edward VII’s illness and delayed coronation, the political conflict between the Conservative and Liberal parties (it’s plain to see where the author’s own political sympathies lie) and the beginnings of the suffragette movement. We also find out how the characters react when change and progress finally makes its way to the Devon countryside and they see their first ‘horseless carriage’.
Long Summer Day is one of my books of the year so far, without a doubt. It’s written in the sort of warm, comforting, old-fashioned style that I love, and despite its length I felt that the pages were going by very quickly because I was so absorbed in the lives of Paul and his friends – it’s one of those books where you truly feel as though you’ve escaped into another world for a little while!
A Horseman Riding By was adapted by the BBC in the 1970s, with Nigel Havers as Paul Craddock. Has anyone seen it?
This is book 6/20 for my 20 Books of Summer challenge.
She Reads Novels 
This series sounds interesting as 20th century history. Because of the times we live in and due to all I have learned from reading over the past 15 years, when I really began to read with a plan, I am starting to see how the past made the present; how we are now making the future. (Regarding your comment on The Man in the High Castle on my blog, that is why I find Philip K Dick interesting. He projects the future he sees being made by the present during which he wrote.) I will investigate R F Delderfield further. Thanks.
That’s one of the things I love about reading historical fiction – making connections between past, present and future. I definitely think RF Delderfield is worth investigating!
big fan of Delderfield
take a look at To Serve them All My Days, you might need a hanky
Thanks for the recommendation, Isabella. I want to finish this series first, then I’ll certainly think about reading To Serve Them All My Days – and will have my hanky ready!
I remember reading this book and lots of other Delderfields from my parents collection when I was still at school. I’d been thinking of re-reading and I’m pleased you thought so well of this book.
I wish I’d started reading Delderfield’s books earlier, but at least I still have so many to look forward to!
I bought The Avenue Goes to War recently then realised that I needed to read The Dreaming Suburb first, I’m waiting for that one to arrive. I remember A Horseman Riding By being on TV but I don’t think it appealed to me at the time, possibly I was too young.
I hope you enjoy the Avenue books. I love the sound of them, but will read the other two Horseman Riding By books first.
I read this trilogy a few years ago and also loved it, not I want to re-read it to enjoy it all over again…
I’m glad you loved this trilogy, Margaret. They’re the sort of books I can imagine wanting to re-read in a few years too.
Of course I meant ‘now I want to re-read’! (I hate auto correct.
Don’t worry – I knew what you meant!
I remember being interested in this trilogy years ago, but then I forgot about it. Intriguing!
I’m glad I could remind you about it. 🙂
Haven’t read this one, but I loved To Serve Them All My Days, and love the TV adaptation of it too, which I have on DVD. I probably saw this one back when it came out – I rarely missed the BBC dramas back then – but I must admit I don’t remember it. Looking at the trailer on youtube it looks like it would be worth a watch though.
Yes, it does look as though it would probably be worth watching. I might be tempted to get the DVD after I’ve finished the books. Yours is the second comment here to mention To Serve Them All My Days, so I’ll have to add that to the TBR as well!
Like Jane, I remember reading and loving this and other Delderfields as a teenager but haven’t revisited them since. I bet you’d love Helen Hooven Santmyer’s “And Ladies of the Club” for a similar sweep-of-history, slightly old-fashioned Proper Big Story, though set in the US.
It sounds great, Liz – another one to add to the TBR, I think!
To Serve them All my Days pops up occasionally on BBC radio 4extra which you can listen to in the US
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xh6tq
and Queen Lucia is on now
Thanks – hopefully it will be on again at some point.
I am sure it will
I check the schedule every week for something good to listen to
I remember reading this trilogy and watching the TV series back in my twenties. I enjoyed them both. From memory, and I could be wrong, the TV series covered only part of the trilogy. I may have to schedule a re-read of all three books.
To Serve Them All My Days is a wonderful read too. Despite John Duttine being in many TV dramas and films, it is his lead role in the TV series of this book that stands out in my memory.
Another one to add to my re-read list.
I can’t believe I’ve only discovered Delderfield’s books now, but at least I have them all still to look forward to! I’m glad you enjoyed the TV series, though it’s a shame if it didn’t cover the whole trilogy.
To Serve Them All My Days sounds great – I definitely want to read it, and I do like John Duttine so will have to think about watching that TV series as well!
To Serve Them All My Days
is on BBC4x starting today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xh3kt
Thank you, Isabella. 🙂