Book description
In the slums of Hull, at the turn of the eighteenth century, lived
Will and Maria Foster, constantly fighting a war against poverty,
disease and crime. Will was a whaler, wedded to the sea, and when
tragedy struck, crippling him for life, it was John Rayner, nephew of
the owner of the whaling fleet, who was to rescue the family. Will had
saved the boy's life on an arctic voyage and they were offered work
and a home on the headlands of Holderness, on the estate owned by John
Rayner's wealthy family. And there, Will's third child was born --
Sarah, a bright and beautiful girl who was to prove the strength of
the family.
As John watched Sarah grow into a serene and lovely woman, he became
increasingly aware of his love for her, a love that was hopeless, for
the gulf of wealth and social standing between them made marriage
impossible. Against the background of the sea, the wide skies of
Holderness, and the frightening crumbling land that meant so much to
them, their love story was played out to its final climax.
Valerie Wood was born in Yorkshire, and now lives in a village on
the east coast. Her first novel, The Hungry Tide, was the first winner
of the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction. She is the author of
several novels, all of which are available in Corgi paperback.
Find out more about Valerie Wood's novels by visiting her website on
www. valeriewood. co. uk
