The Visitor

The Visitor is a sweeping historical fiction / family saga set in 1899 Devon (England), on the eve of the end of Queen Victoria’s reign. The story centres on Phoebe Drewitt, a young girl who flees her brutal father and harsh life on Dartmoor, her head full of dreams for a better future. She is taken in by the reclusive, middle‑aged Kendall Bartholomew, though his intentions may not be as straightforward as they first seem. Meanwhile, respected shopkeeper Arnold Randolph‑Smythe lives a seemingly comfortable life, adored by his daughter but at odds with his wealthy wife. When Phoebe enters the Randolph‑Smythes’ world, her arrival sets off a chain of conflicts, hatreds, and unexpected love, profoundly affecting all their lives. Set against the backdrop of social change, this novel explores themes of innocence and passion, class and appearance versus reality, weaving a dramatic narrative of personal struggle and emotional entanglement.