In this family saga full of heart, hope, and courage, the epic legacy of ordinary men shows a new perspective on the history of Britain and bareknuckle boxing as seen through the eyes of the indomitable Jacob Ross and his descendants. A prize fighter from a young age, Jake Ross is going up in the world. His urban life in mid-nineteenth century Wolverhampton - and his talent for bareknuckle boxing - propels him through life, garnering fame, fortune, and a reputation for invincibility. He attracts a not inconsiderable number of admirers, but for the bright young man, the attentions of fawning young women come with their own set of problems. Eager to extricate himself from the clutches of his unstable landlady, Sam, Jake takes up with Hilda Wynn and her charming daughter, Ellie, and embarks on a romance he never saw coming. But fate is a fickle thing, and Sam wants revenge. As Jake's career takes off and sets him up for one of the biggest fights of his life, tragedy strikes and threatens to push him over the edge into madness. Decades in the future, and Jake's son Ben is among the ordinary men at work in a midland mining town, working hard to provide for his wife and children. As this family saga continues, the epic legacy of urban life in the history of Britain shows the push and pull between industrialization and rural life, between working class men at work in industry and the wealthy landowners who employ them. With the looming threat of the First World War, can this story have a happy ending?