This final events of this story take place in Norfolk during the Cuban Missile Crisis on 1962. Clem is a working class boy, Frankie is the daughter of local aristocracy. Their affair is secret and dangerous.
Interwoven, is the story of Clem's family, life in rural England and world events which affect them all, particularly how the Soviet Union, Cuba and America got to the brink of annihilating the planet.
Not a book for everyone (especially if you don't like love stories or historical novels) but it is a really absorbing read and the bits about the Cold War are fascinating.
