Robert Graves' novel Apples and Water is a story of love, loss, and redemption set in the small town of Appleton, England. The novel follows the lives of two young lovers, Jack and Mary, as they struggle to make a life for themselves in a world that is often hostile and unforgiving. Jack is a young man who has been forced to leave his home and family in order to find work in the city. Mary is a young woman who has been abandoned by her family and is struggling to make ends meet. As the two of them try to make a life together, they must face the harsh realities of poverty, prejudice, and violence. Despite the odds, Jack and Mary find a way to make their love last, and in the process, they discover the power of hope and the strength of the human spirit. The novel has a generally positive sentiment, as it focuses on the power of love and hope in the face of adversity. It is a story of resilience and perseverance, and ultimately, of redemption.
By Robert Graves · First published 1920 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction