Set in the idyllic small English town of Rye in East Sussex, the summer of 1914 unfolds with the beauty of an Edwardian summer that no one wishes to end. Hugh Grange, pausing his medical studies to visit his Aunt Agatha, finds himself amidst the town's small dramas and the arrival of the new Latin teacher, Beatrice Nash. Beatrice, an independent and free-thinking woman, has come to Rye seeking solace following the loss of her father and her inheritance. Agatha has fought for Beatrice's appointment, risking her reputation, but delights in her success. This summer, however, is poised on the cusp of something much greater: as Europe teeters on the brink of the First World War, the lives in Rye are about to change forever. As the town confronts the conflicts ahead, the novel delves into themes of progress, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.