Coming Home

Coming Home follows Judith Dunbar, a young girl sent to boarding school in Cornwall while her family relocates to Singapore in the years before World War II. At school, she forms a close friendship with Loveday Carey-Lewis and becomes drawn into the privileged world of the Carey-Lewis family at their estate, Nancherrow. The narrative spans from 1935 through the war years, tracking Judith's journey from adolescence to womanhood against the backdrop of a changing Britain. Through her experiences at school, at Nancherrow, and during wartime service, Judith develops her identity and finds her place in a world marked by social transformation. The sweeping story encompasses multiple generations and explores the meanings of home, family, and belonging - both within traditional structures and in the bonds people forge for themselves. As war reshapes society and personal lives, the characters confront loss, duty, and the possibility of love. This epic novel examines how people maintain their humanity and build meaningful lives during times of massive social upheaval. The Cornwall setting serves as both a place of refuge and a lens through which to view the broader changes affecting British society during this pivotal historical period.

Readers describe Coming Home as an immersive saga of wartime Britain with rich character development. Many note they've reread it multiple times over decades. Readers appreciated: - Detailed depiction of Cornwall and WWII-era life - Complex female characters, especially Judith - The blend of romance, history, and family dynamics - Length that allows for deep character exploration Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first 100 pages - Too many secondary characters to track - Some find it overly long at 977 pages One reader noted: "The characters become like family members you know intimately." Another wrote: "Sometimes tedious with too much focus on clothing and furniture details." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (23,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) The book resonates particularly with readers who enjoy detailed historical fiction and character-driven narratives.

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🌟 Published in 1995, Coming Home became one of Rosamunde Pilcher's most successful novels, spending 49 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list 🌺 The book draws from Pilcher's own experiences during World War II, including her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service 🏰 The novel's setting of Cornwall, particularly the fictional estate of Nancherrow, was inspired by the author's childhood home in Lelant, Cornwall 📺 The book was adapted into a widely acclaimed TV mini-series in 1998, starring Peter O'Toole and Joanna Lumley 🖋️ At 977 pages, Coming Home is Pilcher's longest novel and took her three years to write, making it one of her most ambitious literary undertakings