The Rosemary Tree

Michael Stone was once a famous author. That was before he went to prison. Now, recently released, Michael needs a new beginning.

Weighed down by failure and despair, the town of Silverbridge seems too offer him a quiet, rural escape from the past. Kind, gentle vicar John Wentworth takes Michael under his wing, and introduces him to his family and friends.

At the vicarage, John's inexplicably discontented wife Daphne brings up their daughters. Bedridden Harriet, John's former nanny, deals impatiently with a world to which she cannot actively participate. At the family home, Belmaray, Aunt Maria is burdened by the worry of a failing estate. And at the grim little town school is fiery teacher Mary O'Hara, determined to foster change.

A story of courage and community, set in the beautiful Devonshire countryside.

“Spring in Devon brings charming solutions to everyone's problems . . . the Wentworths are another of Miss Goudge's delightful families - Daily TelegraphAnother of those blends of fairytale grace, human warmth and spiritual feeling which only Elizabeth Goudge can contrive - The Scotsman”

Spring in Devon brings charming solutions to everyone's problems . . . the Wentworths are another of Miss Goudge's delightful families - Daily Telegraph

Another of those blends of fairytale grace, human warmth and spiritual feeling which only Elizabeth Goudge can contrive - The Scotsman

Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge was born on April 24th 1900 in Wells, Somerset, where her father was Principal of Wells Theological College. Although she had privately intended writing as a career, her parents insisted she taught handicrafts in Oxford. She began writing in her spare time and her first novel ISLAND MAGIC, set in Guernsey, was a great success here and in America. GREEN DOLPHIN COUNTRY (1944) projected her to fame, netting a Literary Guild Award and a special prize of 30,000 from Louis B. Mayer of MGM before being filmed.

In her later years Elizabeth Goudge settled in Henley-on-Thames. She died on April 1st, 1984.

Michael Stone was once a famous author. That was before he went to prison. Now, just released, he needs to get his bearings. Weighed down by failure and despair, Belmaray seems to offer him a quiet rural escape from the past. In the dawning beauty of that lovely Devon spring he finds new happiness and peace. It is through John Wentworth's characteristic kindness that Michael first meets the vicarage family: John, a country vicar far less ineffectual than he believes himself to be, his inexplicably discontented wife Daphne, and their three daughters. Harriet, John's old nanny, deals impatiently with a world to which she cannot actively contribute. And at the grim little school in Silverbridge, facing life with the zest of a born fighter, is red-haired Mary O'Hara . . .

Michael Stone was once a famous author. That was before he went to prison. Now, recently released, Michael needs a new beginning. Weighed down by failure and despair, the town of Silverbridge seems too offer him a quiet, rural escape from the past. Kind, gentle vicar John Wentworth takes Michael under his wing, and introduces him to his family and friends. At the vicarage, John's inexplicably discontented wife Daphne brings up their daughters. Bedridden Harriet, John's former nanny, deals impatiently with a world to which she cannot actively participate. At the family home, Belmaray, Aunt Maria is burdened by the worry of a failing estate. And at the grim little town school is fiery teacher Mary O'Hara, determined to foster change. A story of courage and community, set in the beautiful Devonshire countryside.

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