Spanish Rose, Yorkshire Thorns

Spanish Rose, Yorkshire Thorns opens in 1957 under the vivid blue skies of Catalonia.

Wearing a white satin gown in a church surrounded by pine trees, Maria Salvans marries James, putting faith in their future together despite her family’s doubts.

The young couple immigrate to Yorkshire to work at a grand house on the outskirts of Leeds. But Maria’s hopes of a better life turn to disappointment. England can be a cold and unwelcoming place, and the romance soon fades as her husband proves to be feckless and selfish, more interested in repairing cars than taking care of his growing family.

Faced with betrayal by those around her, Maria calls upon her endurance and resourcefulness to raise her children and keep a roof over their heads, eventually finding a strength and independence that she would never have thought possible.