DVD Review: A HORSEMAN RIDING BY

A HORSEMAN RIDING BY (DVD Debut) - The classic period drama based on the novels by R.F. Delderfield (To Serve Them All My Days). Set between the Boer War and the outbreak of World War I, the series follows the fortunes of Paul Craddock, a former soldier who purchases a run-down Devon estate. The 1978 BBC series stars Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire), Philip Martin Brown (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and Glyn Houston (Doctor Who, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as well as Prunella Ransome (Far from the Madding Crowd) and Fiona Gaunt (War & Peace). (DVD 4-disc set, 13 episodes). 

My Thoughts

Paul Craddock is a wounded veteran of the Boer War looking to get a fresh start. He acquires some acres of land in Sorrell Valley with the hopes of replacing the squire who recently passed away. The mini series follows his life chronologically beginning in 1902 and going through 1919. You follow him through up an downs, joy and sadness as he tries to balance compassion with business as he manages the tenants of his land. The episodes are broken down by year:

1902: Valley for Sale - Paul  buys the estate and meets the locals.
1902: The Party - Paul hires Claire to redecorate and earns the title of "Squire".
1903: An Outbreak of Romance - There is love in the air in Sorrell Valley.
1905: A Birth and a Death-  Grace has a baby, but there are also unexpected losses.
1905: The Storm - A huge sea storm could change Paul's life forever.
1905: The Hollow Victory - Poachers are on the land and there is a big election.
1914: The Last Hot Summer - We skip ahead a few years and find Paul & Claire wedded
 1914: Call to Arms - World War I has begun and the Valley is asked to provide timber.
1915: Death of a Hero - A wounded soldier shows up in the Valley.
1916: The Profiteers - Some members of the valley hope to profit on the war.
1917: The Bad Season - Claire is running a hospital for wounded soldiers.
1918: The Service- Paul returns from war to find an arsonist on his property.
1919: The Old and the New - Paul is missing and the flue epidemic hits the Valley.

This mini series is a beautiful look at the past with lots of action, drama, and a little mystery. Both the costumes and scenery are realistic and the acting is superb. If you love a historical drama, this is a series you have to watch. If you want to pick up a copy of this amazing historical drama, it's available on Acorn Media for only $59.99.   You can also find it on Amazon.