Hawkrise — Aileen Armitage

When charismatic Vincent Gregg becomes the valley's first socialist MP it is the realisation of the Pearson family's dream. But his philandering ways soon lose him his seat. Given a second chance by the Great War, Gregg enlists as a private, but once again finds himself torn between greed and socialist principles.

The war is a testing time for the young men of Hawksmoor too. Robert Hardcastle, pampered and effeminate son of the town's landowner, has to face the horror of Flanders. Conscientious objector Hal Pearson has to endure the scorn of the entire community, while his brother Eddie, too young to fight, follows his father to the mill and tastes the bittersweet pangs of first love…

‘‘Hawksmoor' is the fictional name for the industrial Yorkshire town of Huddersfield where I grew up,' says the author Aileen Armitage. ‘I was captivated by its history and the curious fact that the town was owned by one family right up until the 1920's. My dad used to tell me tales as we walked on the surrounding moors about our family's climb from rags to riches and their subsequent decline. Can I help it if my passion for the West Riding and its history shows a story of love and hatred, tragedy and triumph?'