Once Upon a War

It is the late Victorian era. Mothers blanch at the behavior of their daughters. Fathers are shocked by the way young women go around nowadays. Some houses have electric lights, and the talk of religion, propriety, and values is shocking and dangerously progressive and rebellious. Anastacia Whisper has read To Irvine three times. It is, as far as she is concerned, the greatest novel of the decade. It just happens to be full of sex, violence, and scandals that shock London. Soon, it is banned by Parliament. Not to be dissuaded Anastacia sets up a printing press in her apartment and goes on selling the novel. Casper Brown, author of To Irvine, soon learns of this brave woman selling his books. He visits her bookstore, and is immediately captivated by her. They are kindred spirits, and spend more and more time together. Lust and love push their relationship forward. But then Mr. Charles Sykes, an old man from Anastacia’s hometown of Wells, shows up on her doorstep claiming that her father gave her away to him before he died. He demands that she marry him. Anastacia refuses, and a war begins. Will the dangerous, snakelike, persistent Mr. Charles Sykes win, or will Anastacia and Casper’s love beat him back?