Two Men: A Romance of Sussex

"Two Men: A Romance of Sussex" by Alfred Ollivant is a story set in the early 1900s, where family relationships, personal challenges, and the clash between old ways and new ideas play out in the pretty countryside of Sussex. The story centers around Edward Caspar, who doesn't really want to take over the family business, and his dad, Hans Caspar, a strong railway builder. Hans struggles to understand Edward, who is artistic and sensitive, unlike the tough and strong person Hans thinks he should be. The story starts in Beachbourne, showing how the sea and land affect the people living there and quickly shifts to the complex relationship between Hans and Edward. The conflict between them is clear, with Hans being confident and in charge, while Edward lacks confidence and struggles with a stutter. As the story moves forward, we begin to see deeper problems within their family, especially surrounding Edward's wife, Anne, and their kids, capturing the struggles of people finding their place while dealing with expectations and intertwined fates.