SOLVED. Historical Fiction about a widow who is forced to leave her farm, travels during the war and returns home to her farm to restore it before she dies; published earlier than 1950 [s]

[Heather]

Historical Fiction, I read this book in 1990. The book belonged to my grandmother who was born in 1901. It was an antique book with a hard cover. It only had the title printed on the cover, no image. The tile of the book was the name of the farm that the main character owned. The book was probably written between 1890-1950. My mom loaned the book to someone and we can't remember the title.

Timeline: uncertain but before 1950's

(the book is about a widow who is forced to leave her farm, travels during the war and returns home to her farm to restore it before she dies).

Plot: A happy rural couple in Europe (Dutch?) own a farm near the ocean and lose a son. Their country is invaded and the wife saves a young enemy soldier who reminds her of her late son. Her husband resents her actions and their relationship is not the same after this. A storm floods their farm and her husband dies. Now widowed and unable to live at the underwater farm, she travels to a different country to stay with a relative. She is introduced to some wealthy people, is considered beautiful by some, and is proposed to during her time abroad. She declines the proposal and longs to return home. Years later she crosses paths with the soldier she had saved. She finally is able to return home to her farm and wishes to restore it before she dies.

The title of the book is the name of the farm the woman owned.

[Tytti]

Heather wrote: "The book was probably written between 1890-1940.

Timeline: WWII

Plot: happy rural couple in Europe (Duch?) own a farm near the ocean and lose a son. Their country is invaded by German forces."

WWII started in 1939 and Western Europe was not invaded until 1940. I doubt the book was written 50 years before that...

[El]

If this is about WWII, wouldn't it have to be written after 1939?

[Heather]

El wrote: "If this is about WWII, wouldn't it have to be written after 1939?"

yes, my mom thinks the story took place during WWII, but I don't recall that fact. perhaps it is older than 1939? Not sure though.

[Heather]

Tytti wrote: "Heather wrote: "The book was probably written between 1890-1940.

Timeline: WWII

Plot: happy rural couple in Europe (Duch?) own a farm near the ocean and lose a son. Their country is invaded by Ge..."

Tytti wrote: "Heather wrote: "The book was probably written between 1890-1940.

Timeline: WWII

Plot: happy rural couple in Europe (Duch?) own a farm near the ocean and lose a son. Their country is invaded by Ge..."

Yes, you are correct. I am not positive that the storyline occurred during WWII. My mom thinks it did, but the story may have been set during an earlier time period.

[Heather]

Tytti wrote: "Heather wrote: "The book was probably written between 1890-1940.

Timeline: WWII

Plot: happy rural couple in Europe (Duch?) own a farm near the ocean and lose a son. Their country is invaded by Ge..."

El wrote: "If this is about WWII, wouldn't it have to be written after 1939?"

My mom also read the book years ago and thinks the timeline may have been during WWII. I don't recall and will amend the book's description so that the timeline is uncertain. Thanks for your help!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Heather, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Heather]

We found it! "The Valiant Lady" is a novel written by Brigid Knight and published by Doubleday in 1947. The setting is Holland in the latter half of the sixteenth century.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Super.