When the World Shook Chapter 1 - Arbuthnot Describes Himself

In which Humphrey Arbuthnot recounts his Devonshire upbringing beneath the gentle shadows of an ancient Priory and reflects on the scholarly yet restrained nature of his revered father, alongside his own complex character marked by talent and a restless spirit. He unfolds the tale of his early life’s promising ventures, marred by ethical dilemmas and a restless fastidiousness that led him through the worlds of law, literature, and finance, culminating in a weary disillusionment with wealth and power.