1933. South east Yorkshire. Scarlet haired, sharp tongued and short tempered, Sarah Burton returns at the age of 39 to her home town of South Riding. There she takes on the position of Head Mistress at the local secondary school for girls. At the school she decides to encourage her pupils to be something other than housewives. She meets Lydia Holly the most brilliant but least cultured student she has ever taught. Will Lydia's dying mother, however, stop her finishing her education? Sarah also meets 70 year old Mrs Beddows, the first female alderman, and Tom Sawdon whose wife Lily is dying of cancer. The most important person she meets, however, is Robert Carne a powerful but ruined landowner who is hiding a dark secret. At first she hates him but she later grows to love him. What will happen to her in South Riding?
In this book I really liked the plot as, although it is long, it is interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You want to find out what will happen to the characters next. Equally, it is a fascinating insight into the triumphs and failures of ordinary people's lives. The setting of it in pre-war England is very interesting, as is seeing how Holtby, through her heroine Sarah Burton, questions women's roles at the time. Another character I liked was Lydia Holly; you feel very sorry for her because she has to put up with her useless father. My favourite character, however, was Sarah Burton with her strong personality and feminist views.
Overall I would give this book 4 stars as it is a great and fascinating read. I would recommend it to teenagers of both genders who are 14+ and like an everyday, historical account into people's lives.
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