Táto séria sleduje životnú cestu ženy, ktorá vyrastala v drsných podmienkach 19. storočia. Jej sny o lepšom živote a úteku z ťažkých čias sú neustále konfrontované s nepriazňou osudu. Príbehy skúmajú silu rodiny, odolnosť a boj o prežitie tvárou v tvár nepredvídateľným tragédiám. Je to dojímavé rozprávanie o nádeji a vytrvalosti v časoch veľkých spoločenských zmien.
Brought up on her parents' smallholding in Jarrow in the harsh years of the 1870s, Rose dreams of a world beyond the grime of the town, a world glimpsed at a fairytale wedding at Ravensworth as a child. Capturing the heart of steelworker William a better life is in reach. But tragedy strikes and Rose must save her young family from destitution.
To escape her possessive and drunken step-father, Kate is sent away from teaming Jarrow to work on the Ravensworth Estate. She is soon attracting the attention of charming, headstrong Alexander and dares to dream of a future with him. But when Kate discovers herself pregnant and alone she must return to face the wrath of her step-father.
Rebellious Catherine (Kitty) McMullen, resentful of her new step-father and yearning to escape impoverished Jarrow, determines to educate herself.Soon streetwise Kitty is a ghost of the past and the well-spoken, well-read Catherine leaves the north-east to follow her dreams.But she encounters hardship and heartbreak on the road to self-discovery.