The Sorrowing Wind

Apple Tree Saga #3

by Mary E. Pearce

It is 1914, and the Great War changes the lives of the Izzard and Mercybright families forever.

"A storyteller after my own heart." Catherine Cookson
"Sheer country magic." James Herriott

The reality of war is brought close to home for Betony Izzard when her brothers leave the farm to join up. And a chance meeting with a young Army officer may lead to love.

Betony's foster-brother, Tom Maddox, faces danger and loss both on and off the battlefield. A local scandal forces Linn Mercybright to decide what is most important to her.

A moving story of life in the English countryside, and on the battlefields of Belgium and France, during WWI, and the so often tragic legacy of war. Once again, Mary E Pearce paints a loving but authentic picture of the people and places of a bygone era, which will stay with you long after you have read the last page.

The third title in the five book Apple Tree Saga.

Genres: Historical Fiction

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 1977

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the Apple Tree Lean Down series deals mostly with the horrors of WW1 and so it makes for difficult reading. I'm sure the accounts of life in the trenches are factual but what surprised me was the ignorance of those people 'back home' and their lack of sympathy for the soldiers who returned with dreadful injuries, e.g. the policeman who doubts if Tom really is blind. I assume the facts were kept from the ordinary people, it made me wonder about my Grandfather's three brothers who were killed in that war, and also his brother who was 'never the same again' and ended his days in a mental asylum. Of their six sons only two survived. It took two years for Philip's parents to be informed of his death, he was nineteen years old, terrible times.

[Mrs Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong and moving story of the First World War in the context of this family series. I am looking forward to the story continuing.

[Mari-Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the trilogy following from Apple Tree Lean Down & Jack Mercybright.
It is beautifully written & portrays the far-reaching effects of World War I and its aftermath on three closely-entwined families in the Worcestershire countryside.

I found it a very moving story & needed to have the tissues handy.
Despite reading the whole trilogy many years ago it has remained fondly in my memory whereas books I have read much more recently & enjoyed at the time hold no such place.

[Marjean]

The majority of the story line focused on the horrors of world war II. Fairly discouraging story but the characters are very developed and it's easy to feel caught up in their lives.