Book outline
Riversmeet

This is a saga set in the early nineteen-fifties soon after the Second World War.  It is set in South Devon and centres round the decline of the old social order and rise of the new property owning democracy.

Following the death of John Tucker’s father, he and his mother are in a poor financial state.  His father’s illness means he hasn’t worked for two years and they are now ejected from their estate house (Riversmeet), which ‘is far too big for them anyway’.  John has to leave university and earn a living with local estate agent Reggie Grant.

The Stacey family are the local land-owners no hyphen one word who own Riversmeet.  John and Ambrose Stacey were coincidentally room-mates no hyphen one word at Cambridge although their backgrounds were very different.  However Alison Stacey and John have conceived a mutual antipathy, which seems to grow more bitter as they see more of each other.

Sarah Grant, Reggie’s wife, has recently received a legacy following the death of her father and sees John as a potential route to financial independence.In what way, does she want to leave Reggie for John, or is there some other idea in her mind?  She takes John in hand and starts his education and development.  Meanwhile John has renewed his friendship with old school friend Sammie Joslin.  Sammie has begun a small business doing carpentry to improve people’s homes.  With John’s help the business begins to expand rapidly.

John’s long-time girlfriend Rosemary is at university and, as John develops his business interests and other relationships, they find that they are growing apart.  Sammie is asked to stand in for him but is embarrassed by becoming the pig in the middle. Do you mean with Rosemary? If so need to clarify.

Alison and John are beginning to get on better with each other.  Meanwhile her father is getting deeper into debt.  Stacey Court has maintenance problems which Sir Oswald has caused and which he can’t afford to repair.  John is given the job of surveying the property but his report infuriates Sir Oswald.

Sarah and John have purchased some land and started a housing development.  As a result of John falling out of favour at Grants he leaves and starts to work for the company full-time.

Meanwhile Ambrose has secured a job with banker Henri Maeterlink who is also interested in Alison.  The banker is asked to advise on a financial solution for the Staceys.  Ambrose’s solution is that he should marry Alison to bring new money into the family.

John and Sarah’s company are financing their expanding developments through the same bank.  Following a meeting in London John meets up again with Rosemary and their old passion is rekindled.  However Alison has plans of her own but these may be at risk because of the past history between the Staceys and the Tuckers.

The complex interactions between the characters begin to move to a climax.