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Publisher's Summary

It is December, 1648, and England faces one of the greatest crises in its history. Bands of renegade soldiers and broken men roam the countryside, looting, burning, and raping. In Parliament, former allies are torn apart after six years of bloody conflict. Will there be peace instead of war, or a military takeover of the country? 

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Anne Swynfen travels home from Westminster to Staffordshire with her young children through a desperate winter. There, uncertain whether she will ever see her husband again, she takes charge of the large estate, where starvation looms due to bad harvests, and violent danger threatens from outlaws and the armies of both sides. While she struggles against prejudice to do a man's job, John is shot, beaten, shackled, humiliated, and tortured. Tempted by golden promises if he recants, threatened with death if he does not, he tries to cling to his sanity and his beliefs. When he finally escapes, he begins a terrible journey home across war-torn England to find his wife. 

This is a story about keeping faith - many kinds of faith - in the face of terror, anguish, and despair.
©2015 Ann Swinfen (P)2018 Ann Swinfen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Cate F.
  • Richmond, VA USA
  • 01-27-18

Epic Love Story. Beautifully written & narrated.

An English Odysseus suffers the ordeals of imprisonment, torture, and wandering in frozen wilderness on his journey home. His Penelope, Ann Swinfen, suffers her own ordeals as she fights to preserve their family and estate.
It took me a bit of time to enter into the story as I am not very familiar with the events of the period. Once I did the time flew and I listened every possible moment to this long and gripping tale. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Thel
  • Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
  • 04-19-18

A Great Story

A terrific story; the characters were upper crust but then as the story progresses, they are less so. I thoroughly enjoyed the scope of this book. And I liked that the main character was a woman; she had the struggles which no man in the 17th century could understand. How lonely was her life.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Don't miss this true story!

Incredible story! It took awhile to get into the story but then it took off. The narrator is fantastic as always.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Annie
  • 03-23-18

A wonderful gripping read

Would you listen to This Rough Ocean again? Why?

Yes. The historic detail of the period portrayed is educational and the minutiae of domestic life in the seventeenth century is fascinating

What did you like best about this story?

The contrast between the lives of Ann and John

What does Philip Battley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His various different accents were spot on

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end, without giving anything away

Any additional comments?

A wonderful book, for anyone who is a fan of Norah Lofts, this book is a must. Can't wait to try some of her other novels.