Book excerpt: Described as a 'beautiful writer' by The Times, Fiona Kidman brings us a sweeping saga of family ties, heartbreaks, and learning to live with the past. 'A universal and honest book' San Francisco Book Review When war widow Irene Sandle goes to work in New Zealand’s tobacco fields in 1952, she hopes to start a new, independent life for herself and her daughter – but the tragic repercussions of her decision will resonate long after Irene has gone. Each of Irene’s children carries the events of their childhood throughout their lives, played out against a backdrop of great change – new opportunities emerge for women, but social problems continue to hold many back. Headstrong Belinda becomes a successful filmmaker, but struggles to deal with her own family drama as her younger siblings are haunted by the past. A sweeping saga covering half a century, this is a powerful exploration of family ties and heartbreaks, and of learning to live with the past.