Appealing for an overhaul of the off - putting Works Description. A charming and interesting story, with more depth than some of this author's books. Written in the early years of World War 2 about the period 1938-40, when things were very different from our modern day, and nobody knew what their future might bring. It starts with the son of a Nazi official visiting his English cousins hoping to improve his English, and to learn more about English ways of thinking. And a girl cousin just growing up does her best to help him. He is also secretly reporting to his father who is especially interested in the UK's preparedness to take a stand about German aggression. A fascinating glimpse of a different world, with characters developing as their world changes. And love develops too.