Catherine Cookson was at her towering best in this immensely powerful novel which spanned more than three decades, from the 1880s through World War I and beyond, as it told the story of a young man's fateful decision and the enduring influence it had on future generations.

Marrying a professional dancer, prosperous farmer Ward Gibson is stunned by the murderous jealousy of Daisy Mason, a young neighbor who believes Ward was promised to her.