This is a story of a family, young love and betrayal, and the tragedy of war. ¬ e story revolves around three cousins - an English boy, a German boy, and a Dutch girl - and their upbringing between the wars. ¬The boys' affection for each other is intense, but as they mature, the natural desire for the love of a girl complicates their lives. During the summer of 1932, when the three cousins are on holiday at their grandparents' country house near the small town of Grave in Brabant, an incident occurs that will have tragic repercussions during the Second World War when they are serving their countries.