The Back of Beyond and The House of Lyall (Two complete books in one volume).

The Back of Beyond by Doris Davidson is a historical family saga set between Scotland and London in the years surrounding World War II. Alistair Ritchie and Dougal Finnie are two young men from a remote Scottish village who dream of escaping their rural lives and making their fortunes in London. Leaving behind their close-knit community, they also leave behind Lexie Fraser, a determined young woman who has long been in love with Alistair. Lexie faces her own struggles, including caring for her sick mother and coping with the mystery of her father’s disappearance. As the years pass, the characters’ lives are shaped by love, marriage, children, and the upheaval of war. Although they seek new opportunities in the city, their ties to their Scottish homeland remain strong. Eventually, the challenges of wartime London lead them back to the safety and familiarity of the Highlands — the “Back of Beyond.” There they must confront old relationships, family secrets, and the contrast between city life and the traditions of the community they once left behind. The House of Lyall by Doris Davidson is a sweeping historical saga set in Scotland that follows the rise of an ambitious young woman determined to escape poverty and reinvent herself. Marion Cheyne grows up in a poor village with little hope of improving her circumstances. Frustrated by her lowly position as a servant and the limitations of her background, she seizes an unexpected opportunity to change her life, even though it means compromising her morals. Leaving her old life behind, she travels to Aberdeen and gradually transforms herself into Marianne, a sophisticated woman who marries the heir to Castle Lyall. Although her marriage is based more on practicality than love, Marianne becomes fiercely devoted to her status and the prestigious Lyall name. As decades pass and the world is shaped by war, family conflicts, and social change, she fights relentlessly to protect the life she has built. However, the secrets of her humble beginnings continue to threaten her carefully constructed world, and in a close-knit Highland community, the truth cannot remain hidden forever. The novel combines family drama, romance, ambition, and social history, exploring themes of class, identity, loyalty, and the consequences of past choices. Fair: OK condition, creases on the front cover.