Twistleton is a village untouched by time. Daisy, Jean, Freddie and their friends Aurelia and Laura are devoted to the place, so that when war breaks out Twistleton becomes the embodiment of everything for which they are fighting. For the previous generation the new conflict causes private despair, increased when Twistleton is requisitioned by the Army. Turfed out of their houses, the villagers take refuge at the Hall.

It is here that evacuees from the East End, butler and countryman weld together to fight common enemies. With death haunting their every moment, love is their one all-too-fleeting consolation and also their final triumph.

Charlotte Bingham wrote her autobiography at the age of nineteen and since then she has written comedy and drama series, films and plays with her husband Terence Brady. Many of her novels are available as Chivers Audiobooks, among them Friday's Girl, The House of Flowers and Daughters of Eden.

Kim Hicks has developed, and performed in, several critically-acclaimed one-woman shows which have toured throughout the country. She has read poems and short stories for Radio 4, while her theatre work includes Twelfth Night, A Doll's House and The Choice. Her film appearances include Leon the Pig Farmer.