The Splendid Fairing

"The Splendid Fairing" by Constance Holme is a story about an old couple, Simon and Sarah Thornthwaite, who are tired and sad from a life of hard luck, and are getting ready to leave their struggling farm, Sandholes. The book explores tough topics like growing old and the sadness of their past as Simon thinks about what happened to them. We see Simon and Sarah going to a market town, Witham, feeling like big changes are coming and they can't stop them. They remember when they were young and full of life, which is very different from how they feel now. They talk about how their farm and family have always had bad luck, especially their son Geordie who has been gone for many years. The beginning of the book makes you feel sad and like something bad is going to happen, especially with strange things happening with a car and Simon feeling like something is wrong.