It sold half a million copies, stayed in print until 1961,[1] and was republished in 2010 with an extended introduction by David Copeland (ISBN 978-1-906600-18-1).

The book was originally written as an entertainment for Riley's wife and two recently bereaved friends, the Bolton sisters, to be read to them in weekly episodes during 1911 and 1912.

The story concerns young artist and photographer, Grace Holden, who moves from London to spend a year in the small Yorkshire village of Windyridge.

The village of "Windyridge" is based on Hawksworth near Baildon ("Marsland"), and the nearest town, "Fawkshill", where Grace attends church, is Guiseley.

Grace and her neighbour make an expedition over the moor from "Uncle Ned's" pub (now Dick Hudson's at Eldwick) to "Romanton" (Ilkley).