I. Beginning: Streets of Trees Summary

The novel is set in 1960 England, and the main setting is a brief period in the life of the narrator Isobel Fairfax. The novel also covers portions of English history relevant to the Fairfax family. The story beings with the introduction of the narrator. The narrator introduces herself as Isobel. She discusses the beginning of the universe and mixes in some mythology. Isobel states that the setting of the story will be England, and in loosely chronicling the history of the land she talks about changes in the land over time, including how advances in tool making hastened the decline of the forests. She discusses the origin of the village Lythe.

Around the year 1580, Francis Fairfax arrived in the village of Lythe and began construction of Fairfax Manor. Francis was an adventurer, and he enjoyed...