R.F. Delderfield's brilliant saga of the Swann family has captivated readers since its first appearance. This is the first book in the trilogy, followed by THEIRS WAS THE KINGDOM and GIVE US THIS DAY.

Adam Swann is hungry for success. He is one of the new breed of entrepreneurs thrown up by the Industrial Revolution, determined to take advantage of current economic conditions to build an unrivalled business empire.

And he is determined to win the beautiful, strong-minded Henrietta, and persuade her to share in his struggles and triumphs.

"R.F. Delderfield is a born storyteller" - Sunday Mirror

"His narratives belong in a tradition that goes back to John Galsworthy" - Life Magazine