← Back to discovery

Walnut Shell Days

Eileen Ainsworth Ramsay

1997250 pagesabout 4–6 hours
1997
first published
  • 1997Little, Brown · 250 pages · ENGISBN 9780316641357
  • 2000Story SoundISBN 9781859033128
  • 1998Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd · 384 pagesISBN 9780708939574

In the beautiful Scottish landscape of Angus in the early 1900s, Catriona Cameron lives on her father-in-law's farm with her daughter Victoria, and mother. John, her husband, had long ago run away to live abroad but life is steady and happy without him. That is until the old man dies and leaves everything to John. Although he added the proviso that on John's death the farm becomes Catriona's, they have very little money, and to make ends meet the three women take in lodgers. And so when John reappears to claim his inheritance, he too becomes their lodger. The family begins to re-tie their emotional knots but aged 14, Victoria is starting to form ties of her own. However, her feelings for Robert do not meet with the approval of his aristocratic parents and when he goes to fight in Great War, they make it quite clear that they want the relationship to end.

How it feels

MoodSad
AtmosphereBleak

Worth knowing

ViolenceFrequent

When and where

ThemesWar

Content notes

  • Warmoderateunreviewed
How do you feel?