"We must be very nice to him," said Mrs. Braithwaite, looking up at her daughter with large blue eyes. "Nice to him!" echoed Miss Braithwaite in some surprise. "Well, of course we'll be nice to him. I mean, why shouldn't we?" It's the spring of 1938, the threat of war looms across England, and widowed, slightly dizzy Sophie Braithwaite and her daughter Wynne await the arrival of a distant cousin, Franz von Heiden-from Nazi Germany no less. Franz turns out to be a stiff, formal young man whose father (unbeknownst to the Braithwaites) is a personal advisor to Hitler and has sent Franz to observe English attitudes, but they do indeed welcome him nicely. Soon nicknamed Frank, his defenses are broken down by the kindness, informality, and humour of his cousins-particularly the charming Wynne. But when the dreaded war breaks out and Franz returns to Germany, Wynne must wait in suspense to learn his fate.

First published in 1940, in the early days of World War II, The English Air is one of D.E. Stevenson's best works-by turns atmospheric and entertaining, poignant and funny, tense and romantic. This new edition includes letters-never previously published-between D.E. Stevenson and her publishers, which provide a striking glimpse of the historic moment at which the novel was first written and published. Also included here is an autobiographical sketch by the author. "Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things.

" Western Mail.