In 1931 England, Flora Poste finds herself suddenly orphaned at the age of 20. Since she wasn’t close to her parents, their absence is the least of her problems: “The education bestowed on Flora Poste by her parents had been expensive, athletic and prolonged [...] she was discovered to possess every art and grace save that of earning her own living” (6).

Flora goes to stay with her friend Mrs. Smiling, a rich widow who advises Flora to find some employment. Flora has a better idea. She has inherited a fixed income of 100 pounds per year and hopes to convince some members of her family to allow her to board with them in exchange for the money. Flora’s handsome cousin Charles invites her to stay with him and his mother. He says she will always have a home with them whenever she wants. Flora is drawn to Charles, but she declines the offer for the present.

Flora writes four letters to distant relations. The reply that intrigues her most comes from the Starkadder family, who owns Cold Comfort Farm in Sussex. Flora’s cousin Judith Starkadder writes back and hints that the family needs to make amends for a great wrong done to Flora’s father.