''Winds of the Day'' by Howard Spring is a fictional autobiography of Alice Openshaw, an indomitable woman who rises from an impoverished, orphaned childhood in Manchester to navigate a changing, class-ridden society across both World Wars. It covers her life from the late Victorian era, focusing on her survival, work as a servant, and eventual finding of peace at a home in Cornwall.
Alice Openshaw is a resilient red-haired orphan who starts as a servant and overcomes harsh experiences with a strong spirit. Spans Manchester, Cardiff, London, and the coastal beauty of Cornwall. The impact of two World Wars, social mobility, the shift from Victorian life to a modern world, and the contrast between industrial cities and the tranquil countryside. A reflective, often nostalgic look back at a life, highlighting the loss of old-fashioned values and landscapes.
This was the last novel published by Howard Spring.
