Deze serie duikt in cruciale tijdperken van conflict die het verloop van de geschiedenis hebben gevormd. Volg de verstrengelde lotsbestemmingen van individuen die gevangen zitten in de smeltkroes van wereldwijde gebeurtenissen, en ervaar hun persoonlijke hartzeer, diepe liefdes en verwoestende verliezen. Het portretteert meesterlijk hoe privélevens onherroepelijk worden veranderd door de grote maalstroom van historische onrust, en onthult dat oorlogstijden niet alleen verwoesting brengen, maar ook diepgaande transformatie en onverwachte hoop.
'The end of the old world' people said about the long hot summer of 1914. It was the last season of optimism, of certainty about the future as the sun set on the Edwardian age. The war will bring tragedy, change and love as private torments and struggles are subjected to the greater need.
March 1915. Caroline Lilley's fiance, Reggie, is away at the Front and Caroline gives up her job and returns home at this request. She throws herself into saving the harvest by organising the village women. But the mood in Ashden changes as it becomes apparent that this is going to be a war unlike any other.
Whilst still coming to terms with her broken engagement, tragedy forces Caroline Lilley to leave Ashden, but finds her personal life re-emerging when she renews her contact with Belgian liaison officer Yves Rosier.
As the war grinds on, tragedy strikes the Rectory, and brings Caroline back into the fold. But the end of the war, however, brings its own problems as well as joys.