Coming Home

Coming Home is one of Mervin Jones' best novels, a beautifully written, poignant story of an autumn love affair.

It was a chance remark by his sister, Maggie, that alerted Owen Reed to a recognition of the past. She mentioned that she had unexpectedly run into Vera Tungate, Owen's first love, and the woman whom he might perhaps have married, if he had to go into the army for his national service. He had discovered that he liked travelling and had never settled in England again. Now, over thirty years' later, he learns that Vera is divorced and living in a remote Welsh village.

Owen had come from East, where he owned a small business, to spend a few months' holiday in England. A long rest was overdue. He did all the things he had planned, saw everyone whom he had expected to see and, at last, when no other excuses were left, he made his way in the direction of Vera's village, not even admitting to himself the extent of his longing to see her again. And, as he had hoped, she was still possessed of the same charm and joie de vivre which had captivated him so long ago. But her marital experiences and her unconventional existence had made her a very different person from the young girl he so clearly remembered.