Mason's Retreat, Tilghman - B

                                         This novel is the 1996 book that led to 'The Right Hand Shore', last year's prequel, reviewed here in April.  Although this book also deals with the uniqueness of the Eastern Shore, it is more a novel of a family's slow disintegration.  Edward Mason is the last of his family to own Mason's Retreat, a vast farm in the family for three centuries. He reluctantly moves his wife and two sons there in 1936, after his business in England falters.  Edward is indifferent, but everyone else falls for the old place and his oldest son, Sebastien, works diligently and learns how to manage the farm. When Edward returns to England to resurrect his business,  Edith, Sebastien and the youngest, Simon, stay behind and all prosper without him.  On the eve of the war, Edward returns to reclaim his wife, who has strayed from their marriage, and to bring the family to England with him. His efforts lead to a stunning tragedy. I think these two books are worth the effort and I'd recommend reading this one first.