Empire and Tyranny: The Rutherford Chronicles Part 3

Our heroes, Joe and Mike, are back from WWI. Having served a short spell on the Western Front, they spent long years in various POW camps in Germany. On their return to Newcastle, they have a good deal of readjusting to do - as do all those involved in the conflict. It takes time, but with each other's support and that of their families, they gradually reintegrate into more or less everyday family life.However, it isn't long until the fallout from such an expensive war (both in terms of lives and the national economy) takes its toll on their community and those around the world. The reparations demanded from Germany, involving cheap or free coal and other essentials, affect life in Britain and, in particular, that of the northeast. There mining, shipbuilding, and other heavy industries have, until now, been staples of that region.And then there is the Great Depression, beginning in the USA but soon affecting the rest of the world, and the families of both men are soon hit. Although bot