The whirlwind

"The Whirlwind" by Eden Phillpotts is a story about Daniel Brendon, a young, hardworking man starting fresh at Ruddyford Farm in Devon's Dartmoor. The story seems to be about ambition, the push and pull between new ideas and old traditions, and how people connect with each other, especially in the countryside. When Daniel gets to Ruddyford after a tough time, he feels ready to work hard to make the farm better. His chats with John Prout, an old servant, and meeting Sarah Jane Friend, suggest new friendships that could change things in the story. The different lives and dreams of people nearby give hints of complicated events to come as the story grows.