I read a junior fiction trilogy in middle school in the early 70s.
It was about two brothers who build a flying machine (NOT the Wright brothers – as virtually all my searches return).
I think it was set in either England or New England, possibly on a farm; likely at the turn of the 20th century. I think their mother is one of the characters. I remember specifically a description of cool linen sheets – of all things!
I think both brothers may have liked the same woman. (They might have been cousins but I don’t think so…)
One of the brothers was injured at some point – either in a crash, or maybe in war? Walked with a limp and a cane after that.
I remember rich detail in the writing.
Any thoughts or ideas would be welcomed. I’ve been hunting for years!
Several of these details remind of Madeleine L’Engle’s Swiftly Tilting Planet. There is no flying machine, but a father and son do built a model of a tesseract in a farmhouse in New England. There are superb old linen sheets monogrammed BZM. There are twins, one paralyzed in a horseback riding accident and the other injured in war. There were cousins and marriages between two families.
Although the absence of a flying machine makes it unlikely to be your book, perhaps you have combined two books.
Thanks so much for the input. i’ve looked up the Swiftly Tilting Planet and it doesn’t seem like what i recall – though what a surprising number of parallels, given my brief description! I DO recall that we read A Wrinkle in Time a year or two earlier (though i’m not sure i completed that assignment :-O )
Reading was always such a challenge that i was amazed at how easily and hungrily i ingested the trilogy i’m seeking.
I may have to read some of L’Engle’s series now; it looks very interesting.
Thanks again. What a sweet resource!
dorrie
Sounds like the Flambards books by KM Peyton. Two brothers, one loves planes, one gets injured in the war, all featuring their cousin Christina.
I reckon it’s those!
I agree- Flambards!
Dear dear Emma and Joanne – I can’t thank you enough for solving this decades-long mystery for me!! Your are right – this definitely looks like the series for which I’ve been searching!
AND it’s a BBC miniseries on DVD.
I am so grateful to you both for taking the time to respond.
Warm regards,
dorrie