Set in the rural village of Madder, which T. F. Powys describes as a “stage” where human destinies are played out against unchanging scenery, Innocent Birds is a profound exploration of life, death, and the search for divine meaning. The narrative begins with a “shake” in the village, as old inhabitants depart and new ones, including the gentle gardener Mr. Solly, arrive to take their place.
The heart of the story centers on a vision seen by Solly’s aunt, Deborah Crocker, who witnessed a golden Presence upon Madder Hill. She bequeaths to Solly the mission to “watch” for a promised gift from God to the village, a task he carries out with quiet devotion while tending his white pinks and consulting his beloved History of America.
As a decade passes in Madder, the lives of several “innocent” characters become entwined in a struggle between simplicity and the darker forces of human nature.