Near fine condition.Doubleday,1997.First edition-first printing.Grey hardback(silver lettering to the spine,small nick on the edge of the cover)with Dj(some creases,nicks and scratch on the Dj cover),both in near fine condition.Nice and clean pages but slightly tainted and yellow on the outer edges,two small pencil marks impressions on the edge of the first page of the book,two small nicks on the edges of the pages.Nice and clean book with light shelf wear.542pp.First edition.Heavy book. This is another paragraph Product Description: Set in a small town in the middle of England in the aftermath of World War II, this tells the story of ambitious industrialist Charles Freeman, his wife Mary, and their three children. Each individual plays their part as Britain claws its way from the grey austerity of the war years. n nFrom the Back Cover nIn a small town somewhere in the heart of England, the aftermath of the Second World War brings change. For ambitious and expansive industrialist Charles Freeman, it brings new opportunities and marriage to Mary. He buys the big house on the hill to cement their union and to nail his aspirations to the future. n nIn quick succession, three sons and a daughter bring life to the big house and with it, the seeds of joy and tragedy. As his children grow up, Charles' business expands in direct proportion to his girth as Britain claws its way from the grey austerity of the war years. As times change, so do the family's fortunes for better and for worse, ebbing and flowing with the years. Their stories create a powerful and resonant epic, nothing less than the story of our lives.