E. V. Thompson Libros

Josh Retallick and his wife Miriam take on an exciting new challenge as owners of Ruddlemoor china clay works on the outskirts of St Austell. But a family tragedy forces Josh to leave almost immediately. When he returns he knows that his youngest grandson will one day follow him. So it is that several years later Ben Retallick journeys to Cornwall. His arrival rocks the local community - labourers are wary of this strapping young lad; rival clay owners see him as an unwelcome threat; and Ben's charm sets many a girl's heart aflutter. Deirdre Tresillian, a member of the landed gentry, takes advantage of Ben's naivety; Jo, a poverty-stricken young widow, brings out his protective instincts; Tess considers any man fair game; but it is Lily, Ben's distant cousin, who loves him the most. But what would the future owner of Ruddlemoor see in a humble maid like Lily? As Ruddlemoor enters troubled times, Ben proves that in business no challenge is too great; and in love only one girl can win his heart.

Alan Carter was only married to Dora for a week before being called up to serve in The Great War on HMS Viper. Eighteen months later, convalescing from a shoulder wound, he discovers his wife has almost forgotten him - and fallen in love with an American soldier. Devastated, he leaves East London for Cornwall. When his shoulder is better, even if his heart is still broken, he goes back into service and puts everything into it - getting two medals for bravery in the process. After the war he decides he might as well live in Cornwall - it is quiet which would suit his hopefully successful new writing career - and he can try and start a new life. When he meets artist and suffragette Vicky, all looks much better...

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Josh Retallick, hardy son of a respected Cornish family, and his love the untamed Miriam, daughter of a drink-sodden copper miner, explore together the secret places and wild creatures of Bodmin Moor, unaware that fate will soon sweep them apart. But destiny brings them together again through hard and bitter years when forces of property and power fight to crush the sturdy mining folk who refuse, come what may, to see their spirit broken.

Perys Tremayne is not readily accepted by his family in Heligan, Cornwall, because his late parents had caused a scandal. A neighboring farmer's daughter, Annie, and her brother, Martin, the Tremayne's chauffeur, were the only two who would befriend him. But when war breaks out in 1914, Perys' life picks up—his determination and talent for flying enables him to join the RFC and become a distinguished flying ace. Although his war years and flying career go well, his love life was less successful. He is deeply attracted to Annie, but she has an understanding with Jimmy who returns from the Front blind and gas poisoned, so she feels she must go through with her marriage. Perys' next girlfriend is Grace, a nurse, but she's on the SS Sultan, torpedoed and sunk by the Germans. When war ends, Perys meets up again with Annie just after Jimmy commits suicide, unable to live a disabled life.

Opium und Mandelauge - bk469; Droemer Knaur; E.V. Thompson; pocket_book; 1984