English village life in war-time Britain is brought to life in a masterpiece of observationTimothy Casson, a bachelor writer, is forced to return from a contented life in Venice to an English village. Taking a house by the river where he can pursue his passion for rowing, he has to do battle with the locals to overcome his isolation and feelings of incompleteness. This most complex of Hartley"s novels examines the multiple layers of Casson"s relationships with servants, local society, and friends.