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Thank you so much, nynjagrrrl, for seeing this book on my wishlist and offering it to me. It's a classic that I've been wanting to read for a long time. Thanks also for the lovely bookstring, which will become part of my bookmark collection.

This novel is set in Wales during the reign of Queen Victoria. It tells the story of the Morgans, a poor but respectable coal-mining family, through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan. Huw's academic ability sets him apart from his elder brothers and enables him to consider a future away from this troubled industrial environment if he so chooses.

The author's claims to have based the book on his own knowledge of the Gilfach Goch area where the story takes place were proven false, as Llewellyn was English-born and spent little time in Wales, although he did have some Welsh ancestry.

One of my favorite books once I became accustomed to the cadence of the dialogue. It not only paints a picture of the hard life in the coal mines, but also of the love of a family for each other.


Winner of the National Book Award
mass market paperback