Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, Winifred Holtby's greatest novel was published posthumously Winifred Holtby's masterpiece is a rich evocation of the lives and relationships of the characters of South Riding. Sarah Burton, the fiery young headmistressof the local girls' school; Mrs Beddows, the district's first alderwoman--based on Holtby's own mother; and Robert Carne, the conservative gentleman-farmer locked in a disastrous marriage--with whom the radical Sarah Burton falls in love. Showing how public decisions can mold the individual, this story offers a panoramic and unforgettable view of Yorkshire life.