Naxos AudioBooks is proud to be bringing Francis Brett Young (1884–1964) back into the literary limelight. A justly celebrated writer in his time, he drew on his military and medical experience as well as his acute environmental observations to create authentically detailed and poetically rich novels of profound emotional depth. The coal-mining and heavy industry of the Black Country in the West Midlands, observed by the author as a boy, imbue his ‘Mercian’ novels. He creates a sense of place as evocative as Thomas Hardy’s Wessex and his characters are deeply human – flawed, passionate, and unforgettable.

Owen Lucton, senior accountant and family man, feels trapped by his life. He buys a luxury motor car, which he loves; but an accident sends the vehicle headlong into the river and presents him with an opportunity for change. Wandering incognito across the Malvern Hills, he encounters eccentric locals, the warmth of country pubs, the camaraderie of cricket matches, and a sense of belonging – until he is presented with a dilemma: will he risk his anonymity and freedom to help his friends?