Harvest

"Harvest" by Mrs. Humphry Ward is a story set in post-World War I England, where major social shifts are in progress. Rachel Henderson, a young woman, unexpectedly finds herself as a farmer after inheriting money and steps into a world typically run by guys. She's got to prove herself while society's expectations are changing all around her, and the story starts as Rachel gets to Great End Farm with two older workers, Peter Halsey and Joseph Batts, who gossip about a woman running things and how the war has changed everything. When Rachel looks over her new land, we learn about what she's been through and what she hopes for, feeling her mix of excitement and the stress of her past. The book paints a clear picture of country life, which has been turned upside down by the war and the growing power of women, suggesting the difficulties and changing relationships Rachel will deal with as she learns her new job.