Windyridge

by William Riley

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Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story about a photographer who moves from London to a hamlet in West Yorkshire on a whim. The description of the people and scenery is very evocative although the tone can be a little preachy at times.

[Rob Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow burning yet classic tale of a Yorkshire village. Contains some interesting and oft enlightened moralistic ideas woven into story from Willie Riley.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is surprising that this book is not more widely available - very much like Cranford or Lark Rise to Candleford but with a distinct Yorkshire accent. Lovely.

[Jann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this view into the Yorkshire Dales life in the era around 1910. The Broad Yorkshire dialect was contrasted with the King's English of the Squire, Cynic, and the woman who had moved from London. She was quite familiar with the dialect from hearing her father talk about his home county.

A second contrast that is brought out is the Wesleyan Methodist way of worship to that of the Anglican establishment church and then of course, the comparison of the country ways to those of the 'townies' is yet another difference that was shown.

It was very educational for me as a Yorkshire-born woman with one parent from each side of the above categories.

[Emma Glaisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read and promised so much - independent single woman with a career. I did warm to Grace and some of the other characters but in the end there was way too much God for me and I was disappointed, if not surprised, by the end.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book recently after coming across the Author, who used to live in a village where we have friends. I really enjoyed this story, written as autobiography of a Woman who escapes the smoke and bustle of London, who on a whim, rents a tiny cottage in a little hamlet on the moors (in actuality it's probably based on Hawksworth near Guiseley)and the relationship she develops over the following year. It's in Jane Austen style and essentially becomes something of a love story. The descriptions evoke a strong call to the purple headed mountains and connection with God through natural encounters. For a book written 100 years ago, it loses nothing of the realities of life and relationships and how important communities are.

[Karen Kohoutek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable novel about a female photographer who leaves London on a whim to settle into a small Yorkshire village. While there's an underlying thread about how human nature is the same everywhere, and there are certainly conflicts (mostly involving restless young men who feel penned in and want excitement), it's largely a warm, comfort-read depiction of decent people making up a community. It definitely deserves to be better known.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book by Riley that I have enjoyed immensely. His descriptions of the moors are wonderfully supported by equally deep descriptions of the characters thoughts, feelings and in many cases the simple faith they live by. The 'Cynic' from the first novel doesn't really feature, allowing the now Mrs Derwent to remain the key person through who's eyes we observe the varied relationships at work in the novel.