زمین را شخم بزن

Fleethaven Trilogy #1

by Margaret Dickinson, مریم مفتاحی (Translator)

Lincolnshire, 1910. Shunned by her own family, desperate for work a place to stay, Esther Everatt walks through the night to Sam Brumby's farm, seeking the chance to earn her keep. Reluctantly, the old man takes her on. Able to work alongside any man, Esther soon earns Sam's grudging respect and affection, and at last feels she has found a home she can call her own. But her peace and security are cruelly shattered when old Sam dies: as a woman, she has no right to inherit the lease on the farm. Believing that her passion lies solely with the land and a place of her own, Esther prepares to risk everything to secure her future - seeking marriage with a local farmhand. But as war arrives to dash the hopes of a generation, Esther begins to discover that it is only the truest of love that can survive the passing of the seasons . . .

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance

630 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 1994

About the author

Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Margaret Dickinson moved to the coast at the age of seven and so began her love for the sea and the Lincolnshire landscape. Her ambition to be a writer began early and she had her first novel published at the age of twenty-five. This was followed by many further titles including Plough the Furrow, Sow the Seed and Reap the Harvest, which make up her Lincolnshire Fleethaven Trilogy. She is also the author of Fairfield Hall, Jenny's War and The Clippie Girls. Margaret is a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good book. I haven't read very much based around World War One, so it was a nice change for me.

Three stars.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my to be read shelf for a while now and I am glad I have finally got round to reading it.

I loved the whole concept of the story and how there are another two books that carry on with the story and keep following the characters.

It was full of drama, love, friendship, heartache, heartbreak and in some parts I found it quite historical as the story moves on through of a number of years and touches on the outbreak and end of the First World War and how the outbreak of the War changed the world.

If I am truthfully honest it did take me a few chapters in to really get into the story and get to know the characters properly, but once I got over this I couldn’t put it down.

Esther is the main character throughout the book and the story follows her mostly with different characters coming in and out of her life.

My heart went out for Esther from the onset and throughout and I just wanted to jump into the book and tell her everything will be ok.

You could also really tell that the author had done her research of the time that the story was set and she really set the scene from the beginning.

I would recommend that you read this book, it will send you on an emotional rollercoaster and you will just want to take care of Esther.

On that note I hope you have enjoyed this review and it has inspired you to read the book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable family saga.

[George McLay]

Great story now I can`t wait to read the next 2 books that follow this .It is a very good read starting with Esther as a 12 year old and all her trials and tribulations.

[Anne Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best family sagas I have read in a long time. Esther Everatt has run away from the only home she had ever known, that of her aunt, who treated her like a skivvy. Thanks to the local carrier, Will Benson, she has come to Brumby’s Farm at Fleethaven Point to offer her services as a farmhand to old Sam Brumby. He, grudgingly, is forced to accept her help and the two become uneasy workmates. When Sam dies, she cajoles odd-job farmhand, Matt Wilton, into marrying her so that she can take over the tenancy of the farm. This leads to endless difficulties between husband and wife, especially as Matt is still in love with local lass, Beth, and forms the pattern of their lives up to the advent of WWI, when Matt volunteers. When he is eventually repatriated suffering from shell shock, Esther puts aside her longing for a visiting soldier and redeems herself by caring for her sick husband. This novel covers a much wider scope than the brief description here and needs to be read to catch the full breadth of it. The character of Esther isn’t always likeable but one has to admire her. She is indomitably strong and determined, the lynch-pin of a good family saga. I suspect that the story will carry on with Esther and Matt’s daughter, Kate.

[Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to know what happens to Kate , Esthers daughter , her illicit innocent taboo relationship , the love the pain, the war, the bravery, eventually finding true love ( is there something like that ? ) and finally the pain of seperation and history repeating itself . Now onto the last part ( unfortunately its not in the library ) so I will be forever doomed :(

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shunned by her own family Esther seeks the chance to earn her keep. An old farmer hires her. War arrives. The farmer dies. Esther discovers that it is only the truest of love that can survive the passing of seasons. Powerful. Passionate. Romantic.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this! a very very good story of Esthers life!

[Beverley Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read couldn't put it down love Margaret Dickinson books you can really see it playing out over the hills of lincolnshire

[Magpie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Manipulation, coercion, controlling sexual behaviour, sexual assault... but it's all ok because she gets what she wants? Nope. Not for me.

[Amy DeWolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to finally read the first book and find out how the Hilton family came to be (the other books are about Esther's daughter and granddaughter). (Note: I read the second and third books before this one - oops!)

In the beginning, I really liked Esther, she was so hardworking and feisty. This doesn't change, but she does. I was surprised how nonchalant she was with Jonathan. She didn't try to hide their affair from anyone and didn't think how it would hurt her or Kate. She also didn't even think once what would happen if she got pregnant which I found weird because her whole life was spent vowing she wouldn't have a bastard.

One character I didn't like but had during the other books was Beth. Seeing how she was when she was younger was shocking considering how she is later on. She was pretty darn catty. Esther was constantly blamed for what was happening but Matthew never was - I know, I know, it's all in the time period. I don't really get why Beth kept stringing Robert along. If you love Matthew that much, don't be accepting invitations from another man.

I love this series and recommend it if you're looking for a family saga that is also a quick read (the books are quite lengthy, but I find they fly by).

[‌ Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

رمان بسار قشنگی است به نوشته خانم مارگارت دیکینسن از انگلستان
تلفیقی از عشق و کشمکش دو فرهنگ
استر اوت که حاصل ازدواج غیر رسمی بود که به ناچار با خاله بدخلقش زندگی میکنه در سن ۱۰ سالگی فرار میکنه و به مزرعه سام درامبای میره و با توانایی های که از خودش نشون میده موفق به گرفت کار در اونجا میشه ، بعد از یکسال که صاحب مزرعه میمیره ارباب به شرطی مزرعه رو بهش اجاره میده که ازدواج کرده باشه که به نام شوهرش باشه و اونم با ماتیو که ازش خواستگاری میکنه ازدواج میکنه ، اما بعد که موضوع برای همه روشن میشه مورد بد رفتاری از طرف ماتیو میشه ، در ضمن اینکه ماتیو نامزدی به اسم بت داشته که حامله هم بوده .
دختری به نام کیت به دنبا میاره و جنگ هم شروع میشه و مردها میرن و این استر هست که مزرعه رو میچرخونه،.
در نهایت ماتیو بعد از جنگ با مریضب برمیگرده ولی بهتر میشه ولی در اثر طوفان دریا میمیره و استر با سربازی به نام جاناتان ازدواج عاشقانه ای می کنه و صاحب دختری دیگه میشه و پدرش رو هم هم همیشه هوای اونو داشته میشناسه و اون کسی نبوده جز ویل بنسون

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never heard of this author, until Emily from Novelle Novels (booktube channel) mentioned her and this book. It sounded like something right up my alley, and it WAS! I love a good family saga! This one starts in about 1913 and goes to about 1920 or so - set in Lincolnshire England. We follow Esther and all that happens to her after she goes to Brumby's farm to begin a new life. Yes, a LOT happens. Life, love, loss, it's all in here. It was just the right book for me at the right time. Since this is the first of a trilogy, I've ordered the other two and can't wait for them to get here.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Margaret Dickinson writing, but I got a bit tired of Esther. She seems a bit selfish. Also, too much time spent on hearing about her extra marital affair, albeit her husband was a cad and not a gentleman. My favourite character is Will, the carter. Love his warmth of heart.
But I got through it and did enjoy most of the story. Very good description of WW1 hell. And I look forward to finishing the two other books in this series.

[Elaine Hargrave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a look at life before WW1. The running of farms in rural Lincoln. Everything changed in the war. Men and boys called up, horses taken for war duty and women young children and old men ran the farms to feed the nation.. The return of war wounded and the loss if young men was great and affected everyone.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, the first of a trilogy so now I want to read the next two.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved "The Buffer Girls" but this one just didn't do it for me. It started off ok, but then I just lost interest and have no desire to continue with book 2 and 3.

[John Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read, I await the next in the series with interest.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what is, a yarn in Lincolnshire.

[GenX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the trilogy of the three related books

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. great recommendation from a friend!

[Fi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly formulaic novel, but enjoyable nonetheless - so much so that I couldn't wait to read the following books in the series

[Melita Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Well researched. Strong characters, good storyline. Another enjoyable book from thus author.

[Joanna Warrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this classic British saga very much. Now I am tempted to binge read the next two books in the trilogy!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Margaret Dickinson book I read and couldn't put it down!

[Shy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Entertaining but disliked the female lead character, Esther.
Selfish, manipulative and extremely self centered. I do not think she deserved the happy ending she got

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually between 2.5 & 3 stars.

Like a low-rent Catherine Cookson, & not as gripping.

Another one for bookmooch.com.