The White Cliffs of Dover

In 1914, Susan and her father travel from Rhode Island to Britain for a two-week visit. They are introduced to Sir John Ashwood by Old Colonel Forsythe and begin to fall in love despite initial tensions over her American background. This encounter sets the stage for a cross-cultural marriage and a life at the Ashwood estate.

Susan and John marry, uniting American roots with British landed gentry. They start a life at the Ashwood estate, facing cultural differences and social expectations. The wedding seals a bond that will endure through war and time.

When World War I breaks out, John rejoins his regiment and heads to France. Susan and Lady Jean wait anxiously for news as the front lines shift and the war intensifies. The couple's newly formed family faces the looming shadow of conflict.

John's brother Reggie is killed in action, underscoring the war's personal cost to the Ashwood family. Susan and the Ashwoods cling to faint hope amid grim reports from the fronts. The losses compound the strain on a young marriage.

In a fleeting moment of tenderness, John and Susan spend a few days together in Dieppe. The romance is set against the backdrop of war, making their time there bittersweet. This brief respite foreshadows the separation that war imposes.

The United States declares war on Germany, joining the Allies in the struggle. American troops begin to influence morale and logistics, while Britain braces for renewed strain. The international conflict expands as more nations commit to victory.

After the war's turbulence, Susan returns to Britain and gives birth to her son, John. She, baby John, and Colonel Forsythe observe the arrival of American troops in London, marking a new era of wartime alliances. The family begins to settle into life at Ashwood.

John Ashwood dies near the end of World War I, never having seen his wife after their separation. Susan is left to raise their infant son alone, a heavy burden shadowing the postwar years. The estate and family adapt to new realities without the patriarch.

As a boy, John grows up at the Ashwood estate and develops a childhood infatuation with Betsy Kenney, the daughter of a tenant farmer. He learns to take his duties as heir seriously and envisions a future beyond play. The elder generation's memories shape his sense of responsibility.

During his youth at the estate, John invites two visiting German boys for tea, exposing a clash of cultures when they spout militaristic ideas. The moment foreshadows the looming threat of another European war. It tests the Ashwoods' belief in peace and restraint.

Susan grows fearful of a new global conflict and contemplates selling the manor to move to America. John refuses to leave, insisting that he will join the army if war comes, and they choose to remain in Britain.

With the outbreak of World War II, the elder John becomes an officer, and his longtime sweetheart Betsy Kenney becomes a Wren. Their lives mirror Britain’s mobilization for total war. The couple's past and present intertwine as a new generation faces conflict.

John is wounded in action at Dieppe and transported to a London hospital. A doctor tells Susan that he is dying, and the hospital becomes the center stage for their looming farewell. The war's toll becomes personal in a stark, painful way.

John dies in the hospital after his wounds, dying with the hope of a lasting peace in his heart. Outside, American soldiers parade through London, and Susan tells him about them as his last memory of the war fades. Her pride in the troops contrasts with her loss.