Nicky-Nan, Reservist

In Short

Set in the summer of 1914, this novel captures the profound displacement of a small English community as it confronts the onset of World War I. At its center is Nicholas Nanjivell, a disabled veteran known as Nicky-Nan, whose struggle to maintain his home against a predatory landlord parallels the village’s collective anxiety. Through a lens of dry wit and poignant character studies, the narrative explores the clash between local tradition and global upheaval, tracing how ordinary people navigate the demands of patriotism, greed, and the search for lasting dignity.

The Story

The story opens in the late summer of 1914. Polpier is a town defined by its fishing fleet and its reliance on the sea, yet the looming war casts a shadow over the golden harvest. Nicholas Nanjivell, a man of few words and poor health, lives in a cottage he desperately clings to, even as the local banker, Mr. Pamphlett, seeks to evict him. When the call to mobilize the Naval Reserve reaches the village, Nicky-Nan is among those summoned. His distress is compounded by the discovery of a hidden cache of gold sovereigns beneath his floorboards—a secret hoard that turns his struggle for housing into a frantic, paranoid battle for his own property.

The village is a crucible of competing interests. Mrs. Polsue and Miss Oliver, two self-appointed moral arbiters, patrol the town with relentless curiosity, while the gentle Mr. Hambly and his clerical counterpart, the Vicar, navigate the spiritual and domestic crises of their flock. As the younger men—including the eager Seth and Obed—prepare to leave for the front, they face the social pressure of white feathers sent by anonymous, spiteful hands. The local atmosphere is poisoned by gossip, suspicion, and the cold-hearted opportunism of men like Pamphlett, who preaches "business as usual" while maneuvering to exploit the distress of his neighbors.

Nicky-Nan’s predicament reaches a breaking point when his secret treasure is discovered and temporarily stolen by the mischievous young Penhaligon children. The chaos of the missing money, the intrusions of the village busybodies, and the looming threat of the eviction order push Nicky-Nan to the edge. However, the war forces a change in him; he realizes that the petty machinations of the village hold no weight against the broader sacrifice required of his country. In a final act of quiet resolve, he confronts Pamphlett, leaves his affairs in order, and clears his conscience. He provides for those he leaves behind and departs Polpier not as a broken man, but as a volunteer, choosing to face the reality of the hospital and the sea over the stifling, small-minded environment of his home. As he travels to join the service, he sees the younger generation already united in their purpose, leaving him to find his own, late-found place in the struggle.

How It Unfolds

The gathering storm The news of the war reaches Polpier, interrupting the seasonal rhythms of the fishing fleet and the harvesting of the fields. While the local patriarchs try to maintain a sense of normalcy, the younger men prepare for an inevitable mobilization.

The secret burden Nicky-Nan receives his official summons to join the Royal Navy, a terrifying prospect given his failing health. He discovers a long-lost fortune hidden in his house, and his desperate efforts to protect this secret lead him into a suspicious, defensive isolation.

The moral crusade The village is gripped by social friction, as self-appointed vigilantes distribute white feathers to shame those not yet in uniform. Meanwhile, the banker, Mr. Pamphlett, uses the chaos of the war as a shield to advance his own legal claims against the vulnerable.

The theft and the revelation Nicky-Nan’s hidden gold is snatched away by the local children, leading to a frantic hunt and a public confrontation in his own home. As his secret is stripped bare, the petty cruelty of the village’s internal power struggles is exposed for what it is.

The final departure Nicky-Nan reconciles his past with his duty, choosing to serve the nation rather than fight a losing battle against local greed. He leaves Polpier behind, finding a sense of peace in his commitment to the war effort and the company of the younger men heading to the front.

The People

Nicholas Nanjivell (Nicky-Nan) is the heart of the story. He is a man worn down by poverty and illness, whose desire for autonomy is his defining trait. He begins the book as a man hiding from his own life, but he ends it having reclaimed his self-respect. Mr. Pamphlett, the banker, represents the antithesis of this; he is a man of "business as usual," motivated by cold calculation and a desire to consolidate power in a time of crisis. He remains anchored to his own greed, ultimately undone by his inability to understand the genuine sacrifice of others. Mrs. Polsue and Miss Oliver serve as the village’s judgmental conscience; their meddling fuels the tension, yet they illustrate the pervasive paranoia that war induces in small, insular societies. Finally, the children—'Biades, 'Bert, and 'Beida—act as agents of chaos who inadvertently force the truth of Nicky-Nan’s secret into the open, serving as a reminder of the innocence that is being lost to the conflict.

In Its Own Voice

"The spider-crabs--that are the curse of inshore trammels--had lingered for a good three weeks past the date when by all rights they were due to sheer off."

This passage captures the deep, intimate relationship the villagers have with the natural world, which is increasingly disrupted by the war.

"I'm a Polpier man, an' the last o' my stock; but I'll come back, if at all, to finish in Polpier with credit."

In this final, defiant statement to Mr. Pamphlett, Nicky-Nan asserts his identity and proves that his sense of honor is no longer tethered to his possessions, but to his own integrity.

What It's Really About

The book is a study of how crises—both personal and global—expose the true character of a community. It argues that war acts as a magnifying glass, revealing the latent cruelty in those who thrive on moral superiority, like the busybodies who send white feathers, and the hidden nobility in those who have seemingly nothing left to lose. It asks whether a person can ever truly be free of their circumstances and whether patriotism is a matter of grand gestures or the quiet, difficult choice to face one’s duty. Ultimately, the story posits that the "higher civilization" a country claims to defend must be practiced at home before it can be validated on a battlefield.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy character-driven, atmospheric fiction will find much to admire in these pages. The book offers a vivid, often humorous, and deeply felt portrait of a vanishing world. The prose is precise and rich with the specific, rhythmic dialect of Cornwall, which provides a beautiful texture to the dialogue, though it may take a moment for the modern reader to find their footing. It is a slow-burn narrative that rewards patience, focusing on the internal lives of its characters rather than the explosive violence of the front lines. The author’s warmth toward his flawed characters prevents the story from ever feeling cynical, even when the behavior of the villagers is at its most petty. You will be left with a lingering image of the English coastline and a profound sense of the quiet, individual sacrifices that define any great conflict. It is a work of humanity and historical witness, perfect for those who want to see how history touches the lives of the people who are usually left out of the headlines.