Grand Expectations' takes the reader to Europe, focusing on the three years leading up to the outbreak of war in 1914. A group of young people, both German and English, from various backgrounds, sensing great opportunities ahead, embark on their lives during a time of enormous political, economic and social changes. This is the time of huge advances in aeroplane design, motor car performance, a massive uptake with bicycles and improved prosperity. Also, social changes were taking place with the ongoing activities of the Women's Suffragette Movement. Twenty-two year old Lester Leaper is already an accomplished aviator, cycle racer and car enthusiast. With a German mother, he is fluent in German and, being a 1st Lieutenant in the British Army, is soon recruited by Military Intelligence. Visiting Germany annually to see his cousin Jost who works for Krupp, the armaments manufacturer, gives Lester every opportunity to keep up to date with Germany's rearmament programme. Falling for the beautiful Rosina Foerster, the daughter of the head of the German Intelligence Bureau, was not part of his original plans, especially as she was spying on England. Twenty-one year old Beatrice Jardine is the rebellious daughter of the Commandant of Wellington Barracks. Introduced to opium,seduced by regiment officers and falling pregnant, her father locks her up, breaking her opium habit and causing her to miscarriage. After this, she is determined to make something of herself and becomes a trainee nurse as well as joining the Suffragettes, where she quickly takes an active roll in attacks on the establishment.
