The driving force of change; a man obsessed with reclaiming his ancestors' land.

Patrick's American mistress, whose presence complicates local social norms.

While many locals welcome the prospect of new jobs, the Ryan family —who own the village pub—fear the hotel will destroy their livelihood.

Recuerdos de un verano (originally published in English as ) is a sweeping 1987 novel by Maeve Binchy that captures the transformation of a small Irish village during the 1960s. Plot Summary

Patrick’s son, whose "cartoon-like villainy" provides a sharp contrast to the other nuanced characters. Major Themes

The tension between the sleepy past of Mountfern and the commercialized future Patrick represents.

Patrick’s desire to "restore" a history that was originally burned down by disgruntled workers.

The story is set in the quiet village of . The peace is disrupted when Patrick O'Neill , a wealthy Irish-American, arrives with a grand ambition: to rebuild the ruined local manor, Fernscourt, into a luxury hotel.