Originally published in 1951 from the author of beloved holiday classic The Feast comes a glorious coming-of-age tale about a heroine whose wedding day does not go entirely to plan . . .Lucy Carmichael opens on an unforgettably disastrous scene, as the novel''s eponymous heroine, preparing to savour her wedding day, is instead jilted at the altar. Lucy''s recovery from this calamity forms the substance of the story that follows. She takes a job in the rural Lincolnshire village of Ravonsbridge, at an educational institute established by a wealthy manufacturer for the cultural benefit of the local community. This employment will come to offer Lucy a second chance at romance, but it also brings her unexpectedly into contact with a host of remarkable characters who will influence how she sees the world. Praise for Margaret Kennedy:''She is not only a romantic but an anarchist, and she knows the ways of men and women very well indeed'' Anita Brookner''Kennedy was immensely popular in her heyday'' Washington Post''Margaret Kennedy''s poised style, cool wit and skilful characterization kept her novels welcome for three decades'' Cambridge Guide to Literature in English