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NEW PATHS, OLD PLACES: a collection of eight classic heartwarming books
‘Warm, witty and wise.’ Sunday Times
'For those who enjoy light novels full of good humour and kindliness.' Scotsman
‘Consistently charming.’ The Times
Discover these classic mid-century novels from beloved author D.E. Stevenson. Eight captivating tales of family, friendship and second chances, now together in one beautifully presented collection.
Follow our heroines and heroes as they forge new beginnings while rediscovering the places — and people — that shaped them. From quiet English villages to the wild Scottish Highlands, these timeless stories celebrate the comfort of home and the courage to start again.
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Goudge, Miss Read, Barbara Pym, Rosamunde Pilcher and Mary Stewart.
Book 1: Anna and Her Daughters
When sudden financial ruin forces Anna Harcourt and her three daughters to leave London, they start afresh in the Scottish town of Ryddelton. But just as the Harcourts begin to settle into their new life, Ronnie—a tall, broad-shouldered scientist—arrives, and nothing will be quite the same again.
Book 2: The Tall Stranger
Barbie France has known Edward Steyne forever — her charming childhood sweetheart and everyone’s idea of her perfect match. But behind his easy smile lurk something troubling. Barbie must face the truth — has she mistaken charm for love, and how well does she really know the man she’s destined to marry?
Book 3: Five Windows
David Kirke grows up sheltered and gentle —no romantic hero, but a flawed human drawn into trouble when he ventures into the world. His life is shaped by the ‘five windows’—five homes and stages of his youth, from a rural childhood to the bustling city and beyond. Each window offers new lessons, friendships, and challenges in this poignant coming-of-age tale.
Book 4: The Blue Sapphire
One spring day in Kensington Gardens, Julia Harburn sat in the sun, her sapphire-blue ribbon gleaming. Once sheltered and dull, her life soon opens up to new friends, enemies, and adventures that test her courage and transform her.
Book 5: The House on the Cliff
Elfrida Jane, once a lively small-part actress, finds her mother’s cliff-top house at Mountain Cross lonely after the bustle of the theatre. But she discovers the property holds secrets of its own. When unexpected visitors arrive, she is soon dragged back into the world she thought she left behind.
Book 6: Gerald and Elizabeth
Gerald Brown, a gifted young engineer, is falsely accused of diamond theft and dismissed in disgrace. Broken in spirit, he returns to London to stay with his half-sister, Elizabeth Burleigh, a famed West End actress who, like him, hides her own secret sorrow.
Book 7: The House of the Deer
At short notice, Gerald Burleigh Brown takes a deer-stalking holiday in a remote Highland lodge. As he befriends the locals and hunts the elusive hornless stag, peace gives way to sudden violence—forcing him to risk his life to protect the woman he loves.
Book 8: Still Glides the Stream
When Will Hastie retires from the military and returns to his family estate in Scotland, he hopes for a quiet life as a farmer. But the loss of his best friend Rae in the war still haunts the village. When Rae's final letter is shared to Will, it drives him to France in search of the truth about Rae’s death.
CRITICS LOVE D.E.
'For those who enjoy light novels full of good humour and kindliness.' Scotsman
‘Consistently charming.’ The Times
Discover these classic mid-century novels from beloved author D.E. Stevenson. Eight captivating tales of family, friendship and second chances, now together in one beautifully presented collection.
Follow our heroines and heroes as they forge new beginnings while rediscovering the places — and people — that shaped them. From quiet English villages to the wild Scottish Highlands, these timeless stories celebrate the comfort of home and the courage to start again.
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Goudge, Miss Read, Barbara Pym, Rosamunde Pilcher and Mary Stewart.
Book 1: Anna and Her Daughters
When sudden financial ruin forces Anna Harcourt and her three daughters to leave London, they start afresh in the Scottish town of Ryddelton. But just as the Harcourts begin to settle into their new life, Ronnie—a tall, broad-shouldered scientist—arrives, and nothing will be quite the same again.
Book 2: The Tall Stranger
Barbie France has known Edward Steyne forever — her charming childhood sweetheart and everyone’s idea of her perfect match. But behind his easy smile lurk something troubling. Barbie must face the truth — has she mistaken charm for love, and how well does she really know the man she’s destined to marry?
Book 3: Five Windows
David Kirke grows up sheltered and gentle —no romantic hero, but a flawed human drawn into trouble when he ventures into the world. His life is shaped by the ‘five windows’—five homes and stages of his youth, from a rural childhood to the bustling city and beyond. Each window offers new lessons, friendships, and challenges in this poignant coming-of-age tale.
Book 4: The Blue Sapphire
One spring day in Kensington Gardens, Julia Harburn sat in the sun, her sapphire-blue ribbon gleaming. Once sheltered and dull, her life soon opens up to new friends, enemies, and adventures that test her courage and transform her.
Book 5: The House on the Cliff
Elfrida Jane, once a lively small-part actress, finds her mother’s cliff-top house at Mountain Cross lonely after the bustle of the theatre. But she discovers the property holds secrets of its own. When unexpected visitors arrive, she is soon dragged back into the world she thought she left behind.
Book 6: Gerald and Elizabeth
Gerald Brown, a gifted young engineer, is falsely accused of diamond theft and dismissed in disgrace. Broken in spirit, he returns to London to stay with his half-sister, Elizabeth Burleigh, a famed West End actress who, like him, hides her own secret sorrow.
Book 7: The House of the Deer
At short notice, Gerald Burleigh Brown takes a deer-stalking holiday in a remote Highland lodge. As he befriends the locals and hunts the elusive hornless stag, peace gives way to sudden violence—forcing him to risk his life to protect the woman he loves.
Book 8: Still Glides the Stream
When Will Hastie retires from the military and returns to his family estate in Scotland, he hopes for a quiet life as a farmer. But the loss of his best friend Rae in the war still haunts the village. When Rae's final letter is shared to Will, it drives him to France in search of the truth about Rae’s death.
CRITICS LOVE D.E.
- GenresClassics
2187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
About the author
D.E. Stevenson
72 books690 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.
D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.
Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.
D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 24, 2026
Comforting!
I turned to these stories when i did not need a challenging read - just something to look forward to reading in a tricky patch. DEStevenson serms to have been so perceptive about human nature and her attention to detail quite remarkable. Yes, they are a bit of romance with happy ever after endings but they are so much more too. I am sorry to have reached the end!
I turned to these stories when i did not need a challenging read - just something to look forward to reading in a tricky patch. DEStevenson serms to have been so perceptive about human nature and her attention to detail quite remarkable. Yes, they are a bit of romance with happy ever after endings but they are so much more too. I am sorry to have reached the end!
April 27, 2026
Old Friends, New Friends
Of the eight books in this collection I had read six of them but as D. E. Stevenson is like eating comfort food, reading the old ones and having the new stories as dessert made for a perfect smorgasbord of words.
Of the eight books in this collection I had read six of them but as D. E. Stevenson is like eating comfort food, reading the old ones and having the new stories as dessert made for a perfect smorgasbord of words.
September 19, 2025
These are just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful stories.
Read
January 26, 2026I am delighted to discover a light-hearted, clean new author who makes you think but not too hard.
July 20, 2026
Fabulous!
I think this might be the third or fourth time that I’ve read these stories, but they are wonderful! DES is a glorious author, and I love to read her stories.
I think this might be the third or fourth time that I’ve read these stories, but they are wonderful! DES is a glorious author, and I love to read her stories.
November 15, 2025
Wonderful as always! DE Stevenson writes pure, beautiful, classic novels--the kind you just don't see these days.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews