The Water Meadows

by Emma Blair

It is May 1926. Glasgow is crippled by the General Strike and the future looks bleak for John Forsyth. Made redundant from his factory job and no prospect of employment, he and his family only hold together through the determination of his ambitious wife, Madge. Even though this means a dramatic move to the farthest reaches od England - to Devon.

As the family begins a new life in the village of Atherton, their fortunes change. John workes in the copper mine, but unused to the appaling conditions finds solace in the Church and in his secret supply of scrumpy; long-suffering Marge ultimately attains love and happiness where she least expects it; and Graham, their oldest child, soon discovers how thrilling-and lucrative- a smuggler's life can be. However it is Jennie, the Forsyth's wilful daughter, who faces the greatest challenge of them all. Her dreams take her far beyond Devon's green fields and golden sands, and will bring her both devastating loss and passionate love.

576 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Iain Blair was born on 12 August 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, married with the also writer Jane Blanchard. Initially he wrote plays for theatre and television, but later began to write novels. He started out writing suspense novels as Iain Blair, but after being unsuccessful with this genre, switched to writing popular historical romance fiction sagas. But according to his Web site, Iain Blair's publishers decided he'd sell far more books simply by being published as a woman because is a women's fiction genre. "I was given absolutely no choice in the matter. They'd decided on a sex change and even the name. So that was that. Emma I became and Emma I've stayed." His true identity remained a secret until 1998 when his novel Flower of Scotland was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, which required him to admit to being the author. He passed away on 3 July 2011 in Torquay, Devon, England.

Reviews

[Bodosika Bodosika]

This was the first and only book I have read by this author though initially i was not that enthusiastic about it but immediately i started reading it due to the simplicity of the language used I became glued to it and end up enjoying it immensely.

[Fiona]

Great book I'd forgotten how good Emma Blair was.

[Sandi]

The first book I read of Emma Blair's. I really enjoy her books; need to read more!