A Time to Live

Will he choose inheritance – or freedom . . .

1918: Freddie was destined for a different life, determined to make his fortune in the plantations of Ceylon. But just as the great war comes to an end, the eldest brother and heir to Coombe Hall, Edward, doesn’t return.

Torn between duty and freedom, Freddie must now sacrifice his own dreams to keep the estate – and the future of Coombe – alive. And now he must now marry for an heir, not for love.

But the turmoil of war didn’t end on the battlefield; the country faces upheavals like never before. And when an unexpected legacy blows in from Edward’s secret past, Freddie’s grip on the estate – and his future – looks more uncertain than ever . . .

Sweeping from the smoking battlefields of France to the rich estates of Devon, from Suffragettes to political extremists, this is a story of legacy and scars, of the price of change, the price of family…

Reviews

‘An absorbing, meaty saga’ THE TIMES

‘For fans of Downton Abbey and Howards End, de Haan paints a vivid picture of seismic social changes between the wars on the idyllic Coombe Hall estate’ Kate Lord Brown

‘Rich detail of time and place, of social mores, of political events … an authentic world [and] a wonderful cast of characters’
Tim Pears

‘Touching on the political questions of the day, this is a story of dignity and desperation, hope and expectations’ Platinum

Praise for Vanessa de Haan:

‘A rich and skilful novel dramatizing how the war changed so many lives’ Elizabeth Buchan

‘The sure-footedness of a pro, an amazing debut’ Jeffrey Archer

‘…a sweeping feel [that rolls] forward through the months and years with tremendous confidence and ease…. a wonderful cast [building] towards a series of emotional climaxes that really earn their power… so many scenes were really moving.

‘This is a story about class changing conventions, as much as it is a war story . . . De Haan writes with depth and compassion’ The Times

‘The second world war brings three people's lives crashing together in this nuanced debut . . . Carefully researched and sensitively written, this is an emotional and memorable read’ Woman’s Own

‘A beautifully layered, expressive novel’ Historical Novel Society

‘Packs a powerful emotional punch . . . a wonderfully engaging new voice' Toronto Star

About the author

Vanessa de Haan is a freelance journalist and editor. She has worked in-house for various media companies and spent most of her career at The Spectator magazine.

In 2005 Vanessa moved temporarily from London to Devon to concentrate on her own writing and never left. She completed the MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and was a columnist on the Western Morning News for almost three years. When not writing, Vanessa is a proofreader and copy editor. She still lives in Devon, now with a husband, three children and various animals.