Five Easy Pieces How Green Was My Valley

Linda Crampton is an experienced teacher who enjoys reading and creative writing. She likes classical literature, fantasy, myth, and poetry.

The village highlighted in "How Green Was My Valley" may have been based on Gilfach Goch.

Darren Wyn Rees, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 license

A Poignant and Interesting Tale

How Green Was My Valley was written by Richard Llewellyn. It's a story about a family's experiences in a Welsh mining village. It includes memorable descriptions, tragic incidents, and an interesting plot. The book was published in 1939 and soon became very popular. It won the 1940 National Book Award in the United States. A 1941 movie based on the novel won several Academy Awards. Today the novel and the writer are sometimes criticized for being inauthentic, but the story has been popular for a long time and is still admired and appreciated.

I used to live in Wales and was introduced to the novel at a young age. I still have my father's copy of the book and reread it occasionally. I enjoy the story and the connection to Wales, even though critics say that some of the information in the book isn't accurate with respect to Welsh life in the past. I acknowledge the criticisms of the author and the claims of inaccurate information in the story with respect to historical reality, but I still enjoy reading the novel.

The story is told by Huw Morgan. He is about to leave his village, which like the surrounding countryside is being coated by coal slag. Huw describes significant incidents related to his family and includes reflections about his loved ones and his friends, including those who have died. I've highlighted some of his memories below and have also given facts about the author.

In the map of the United Kingdom shown above, Wales is coloured yellow, England is red, Scotland is blue, and Northern Ireland is green. Ireland (the rest of the land mass where Northern Ireland is located) is not part of the UK.

Introduction to the Story

References to real-life events in the story indicate that it's set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Although some of the customs and behaviours that the author describes may not have happened or may not have been common in Wales during the time frame of his story, they create a rich background to the tale.

At the start of the story, Huw is living with his sister Olwen in the mining village where he grew up. He says that he's made the decision to leave the village soon without telling Olwen or anyone else in the community. The reader realizes that tragic or unpleasant events must have triggered this decision. Before Huw leaves, he looks back at his life. His recollections form the book.

The smothering of the land by coal slag and the contamination of the rivers in the valley is a recurring topic in the novel. The word "slag" means waste material created during the excavation of coal, though it also refers to waste obtained from metals during refining. Materials can leave a slag heap by runoff and leaching. Multiple heaps are created by the colliery in Huw's village. Their number increases as the years pass. One of them is eventually created near his home. Slag heaps are sometimes known as spoil tips.

The slag problems depicted in the novel remind me of a real disaster that happened while I was living in Wales. In a horrible event, a huge slag heap suddenly collapsed, travelled rapidly down a hill, and covered a school in the town of Aberfan. The slag killed many children and their teachers. The event is known as the "Aberfan Disaster" today.

Only in our Valley was there a colliery to poke its skinny black fingers out of the bright green.

— Huw Morgan (from a mountain vantage point)

My father's copy of "How Green Was My Valley" plus a Welsh poppy

Linda Crampton and Velela

The Welsh poppy picture in the photo above is a public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons and was taken by Velela. The Welsh poppy is yellow or orange and has the scientific name Meconopsis cambrica (or Papaver cambricum). It grows in Wales and Western Europe. Wales is sometimes known as Cambria.

A Saturday Celebration and Colliery Problems

The story begins with joyful memories of Huw's early childhood. He describes the wonderful family meals that the family ate on Saturday after his brothers and father had been paid for their work at the colliery. Like the other women in the community, when she hears the mine whistle blow, Beth (Huw's mother) waits on a stool outside the door for the men to return. They deposit their wages of coins into her lap. She stores the money in a container on the mantelpiece and delivers it to family members when they need it.

The family contains six boys and two girls at the start of the story. Huw is the youngest child. Another girl (Olwen) is born later. Chapter One introduces us to Huw's oldest brother Ivor as well as Ivor's love for Bronwen, who becomes his wife. Huw describes his own attraction to Bronwen, which lasts from his childhood until the end of the story.

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After Ivor's and Bronwen's wedding, the mood becomes more serious as problems at the colliery are introduced. Like the problems created by slag, the colliery situation is a recurring theme in the book. Huw's brothers are involved in the effort to create a union to fight injustice from the mine owners. Events related to this effort and the activities of the union that's formed are often described in the story, though not to the exclusion of other situations.

Tension in the Family

Huw's father Gwilym often appears to be a lighthearted and jovial man, but he is the head of the family and doesn't tolerate disobedience. His older sons are angry about the problems at the mine. They are determined to create a large union that includes workers at other collieries. As a result of one memorable argument with their father, three of the sons leave the home to lodge in another house. Their father disowns them. Angharad, the oldest daughter in the family, announces that she's leaving to take care of the boys. Her father is later able to persuade her to return, to the joy of her mother.

During a trip up a nearby mountain with Huw that happens soon after the events mentioned above, Gwilym discusses the value of prayer and God. The trip seems to calm him. Though he tells Huw that he understands his sons' frustrations with the colliery management, he disapproves of their method of dealing with the problem. He thinks that anger and an attempt to force the colliery managers to behave in the desired way is the wrong approach. He believes the best approach is reason, patience, and prayer. References to religious beliefs frequently appear in the story.

When he and Huw return, Huw's mother shuts herself in a room with his father and persuades him to allow the boys to return. The boys come back, but the atmosphere in the family Is different. The father says that they are now lodgers instead of a family, including him. He says that he is no longer the father of the family because he has been disobeyed.

Inside a modern coal mine

hangela, Pixabay License

The owners of the mine notice that Gwilym is against a proposed strike and give him a promotion. The workers are polite to him, but the old comradeship has disappeared and tensions develop. During a snowstorm, a pregnant Beth asks Huw to lead her up the mountain to the field where the miners are going to meet. She addresses the meeting and tells the men that if her husband is harmed, she will find the guilty people and kill them. She says, "There will be no hell for me. Nobody will go to hell for killing lice."

As Beth and Huw travel home from the meeting, a severe snowstorm develops. They have difficulty in finding their route and in crossing the river. Both of them are hurt. They are rescued after the damage has been done. Beth gives birth to Olwen not long after the pair reach home. Huw has a "fever in the bones" of his legs and remains in bed and then in a weak state for years. His disorder may have been the one known today as osteomyelitis, or a bone infection. Better treatments for the disorder exist today.

Strikes and Deaths

Gwilym is eventually forgiven by the community. He continues to believe in the value of discussing problems with the colliery managers and in "giving a bit and taking a bit, with fairness and fair play to all." He believes that the managers won't go below the minimum wage that the parties have agreed to. As the story continues, Gwilym's views seem to be increasingly naive.

A pattern of strikes accompanied by the colliery offering jobs to other people for less money develops. Newcomers to the village are given jobs, and local residents are left without employment. Even when a strike isn't taking place, men are fired for complaining about the situation at the mine. The replacement worker always receives a lower wage than the previous one.

At one point in the story, the miners go on a major strike that lasts from July to November. The writer may have been inspired by the 1926 General Strike in the UK when he decided to write this section. The article about the strike referenced at the end of this article includes situations similar to those described in the book. The real nine-day strike in May was intended to show support for coal miners and other workers. The miners themselves stayed on strike until November and then had to return to work due to their economic situation.

In the book, children in the village are the first to die during the five-month long strike. Women and men follow. A sheet has to used for burying the bodies because there is no time to build coffins. The Morgan family is not as seriously affected as many others due to the careful savings maintained by Beth, but even her family has to ration food. Eventually, the mine owners promise to give workers a minimum wage. The men in the Morgan family are bitter about the situation but realize that they must agree with the plan in order to prevent any more deaths.

The three shops gave credit for a bit, and then closed up. Friendly Societies paid out all they had, and then those few shillings stopped. The men in the Union with Ianto and Davy had benefits for weeks and weeks, but then that stopped, too.

— Huw Morgan

Academic Success and Expulsion

Huw demonstrates academic ability when he is young and is eventually sent to an English school in a nearby community. Here he experiences a conflict with Mr. Jonas, a teacher who is Welsh but who despises the Welsh language. He also dislikes Huw.

While he's preparing for his university entrance exams, Hugh sees a young girl in the infants section of the school. She has a huge board around her neck that says "I must not speak Welsh in school" written on it. Her neck and her legs are being damaged by the board as she walks, and she is crying. Mr. Jonas is watching her and smiling. Huw physically attacks him and is expelled. He later learns that Mr. Jonas told the headmaster that if Huw wasn't expelled, he would press charges.

The letter sent by the school to Huw's parents says that he can still take the exams. During the family discussion about the event, Huw tells his father that he wants to work in the coal mine with him instead of going to university. Although he gets a job in the mine, he soon obtains training from a blacksmith and works on repairing the trams and other equipment needed underground instead of collecting coal. He eventually leaves the mine and becomes a carpenter.

Merddyn Gruffydd Facts

Though the story focuses on the experiences of the extended Morgan family, other characters make an appearance. The most important one is a preacher referred to as Mr. Gruffydd. The writer reveals that his first name in Merddyn in the pronunciation guide at the end of the book. Richard Llewellyn says that the name is pronounced "Merr-thin Griffith." Mr. Gruffydd is sincere in his beliefs, hard-working, and inspiring. He offers advice and help to Huw, who respects the preacher. He also works hard to help the villagers in times of trouble.

Angharad falls in love with Mr.Gruffydd, who seems to have feelings for her as well. He won't act on this feelings because of two concerns. Angharad is almost eighteen and he is almost forty. In addition, his income is small and he doesn't think that it would be fair to marry Angharad for that reason. Angharad marries a rich man who loves her, but she is very unhappy. She still loves Mr. Gruffydd.

Angharad returns to the area after some time away with her husband. Mr. Gruffydd visits her on multiple occasions while her husband is away. Though the couple only sit and talk, the housekeeper is outraged and spreads the news.

The deacons vote to remove Mr. Gruffydd from his position at the chapel. He leaves the community. Ten members of the chapel (including Huw's family) split from the others and use a stable for their services. The congregation soon grows to almost a hundred members. Huw's father runs the services. The members of the congregation buy the stable and turn it into a suitable chapel. Hugh helps to create the chapel with his carpentry skills, which he practiced with Mr. Gruffydd.

The Final Conflict

As the problems at the mine continue, Huw's remaining brothers give up their fight and move to other countries to find work. Unfortunately, Ivor is not with them because he's been killed in a mining accident. Huw moves into Bronwen's home to help her and her children after her husband's death. Their relationship is close but platonic. Angharad moves to Capetown, presumably with her husband. This leaves only Huw and two of his sisters in the home area.

The final conflict involving the miners is different from the other ones mentioned in the book because it involves outsiders and is larger. After an enjoyable day in a nearby town with Bron and Olwen, Huw returns to the village to find hundreds of lamps shining in the darkness. A friend tells him that speakers have been addressing the crowd all afternoon. Their topics include Karl Marx, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and revolution. Later, another friend says that Winston Churchill (the Home Secretary) is sending soldiers to the area. Both police and soldiers congregate as windows are broken and looting occurs.

The pit starts filling with water because the pumps are no longer working. Olwen is worried about the pit ponies, which are underground with no one to give them food or water or to comfort them. Pit ponies were used to pull trams filled with coal. Huw goes into the dark pit to find the animals. He and his companions bring the horses up in the cages and then release them to explore the mountain and feed on grass.

Huw's father goes into another area of the pits to inspect them for their water content but doesn't return. Huw enters the area to find him. He discovers that a roof has collapsed, trapping his father. Gwilym is able to weakly acknowledge his son's presence and then dies.

Mr. Marx was made to sound like a newly risen Christ and Mr. Hegel as a John Baptist, with gold flowing easily between them.

— Huw Morgan

The End of the Story

The last section of the book is moving. On the final two pages, Huw laments the loss of people that he knew and cared for "thirty years ago and more." He says, "But you have gone now, all of you, that were so quick with life. Yet not gone, for you are still a living truth within my mind." Huw asks himself if people that were important to him are dead in the manner shown in the quotation below. He replies in the negative. The quotation refers to a celebration after Davy has scored a try against Scotland in a rugby game at Cardiff Arms Park. (This park is a real one and still exists today.)

I have a copy of the first two of the three sequels to the story. Though I haven't read either one in its entirety, I've looked at sections of the books. Neither has pulled me into the story like the first book did, but I should be fair and not say any more until I've read the entire novels. Mr. Gryffydd is mentioned at the end of the first book as one who has passed on. It seems that the writer changed his mind between finishing the first book and starting the second. In the first sequel, we discover that Mr. Gruffydd is not dead. Huw meets him in Patagonia. The preacher also appears in the second sequel.

Did my father die under the coal? But, God in heaven, he is down there now, dancing in the street with Davy's red jersey over his coat, and coming, in a moment, to smoke his pipe in the front room and pat my mother's hand.

— Huw Morgan on the last page of "How Green Was My Valley"

Huw's story continues in three sequels, including "Down Where the Moon is Small."

Linda Crampton

The Three Sequels to the Story

In Up into the Singing Mountain (1960), we discover that Huw went to live in a Welsh colony in Argentina after he left Wales. The next book in the series was published in 1966 and is entitled Down Where the Moon is Small. It continues the description of Huw's life in Argentina. The final book is Green, Green My Valley Now, which was published in 1975. In this book, Huw and his wife return to Wales. They eventually discover that the valley where Huw grew up has become green again after the closure of the coal mine.

A Movie and the Importance of Music

A movie based on the How Green Was My Valley appeared in 1941. It starred Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall, who played the young Huw. The movie won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (for Donald Crisp), Best Cinematography, and Best Set Design.

Though the popular movie episode in which the miners sing a hymn as they leave work (shown in part in the video below) didn't happen in the book, there are occasions in the story when people gather in the streets and sing hymns together. Despite the fact that conflicts sometimes develop, the community in Huw's village often celebrate happy events together and commiserate over tragic ones. Communal hymns and other music frequently accompany these events, and families share food and drink with the community. The gatherings have been classified as sentimental nonsense by some analysts of the book. They may have been atypical in real life, but they can be interesting to read about in a work of fiction.

In the book, Ivor becomes a choir conductor. His family and his community are immensely proud of the fact that he and his choir were asked to give a command performance for Queen Victoria and that he shook hands with her.

Was Richard Llewellyn Welsh or English?

Richard Llewellyn was born in Hendon (a district in London) in 1906. He died in 1983. His birth name was Richard David (or Dafydd) Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd. He claimed to have been born in St. David's in Pembrokeshire, apparently to help create the impression that he was Welsh. He did have Welsh ancestry, and his parents were Welsh, but he's frequently considered to have been English rather than Welsh.

Meic Stephens was a Welsh university professor, editor, journalist, and poet who knew Richard Llewellyn. Stephens died in 2018. He said that the writer was "very English." Llewellyn's false claims about his birthplace and his claims that he was Welsh have annoyed some people. Based on what I've read, I think Meic Stephens has probably given the best description of the situation. He called Llewellyn a "semi-detached Welshman". A semi-detached home is known as a duplex in North America. Two semi-detached homes are joined together and have one wall in common. A different person or family lives in each home.

Though Richard Llewellyn does seem to have misrepresented himself to some extent, the claims about his untruthfulness are based on documents discovered after his death, such as his birth certificate. He never got a chance to defend himself or present his point of view.

I don't think he was cynical – there was a real desire to align himself with this community. He creates an idolised community where people belong and maybe that was something that appealed to him.

— Kristi Bohata, University of Swansea, via WalesOnline (with respect to Richard Llewellyn)

A Link to the Village of Gilfach Goch

Llewellyn is said to have gained much of his knowledge about life in a mining village from interviewing people living in Gilfach Goch. This village is located in South Wales and was once a mining one. Its appearance in modern times is shown in the first photo in this article. Coal mining was an important industry in Wales in the past, but most of the mines have closed as new fuels have taken over.

Llewellyn frequently visited his grandfather, who lived in Gilfach Goch (according to most reports). Some sources say that all of Llewellyn's knowledge about mining was gained by asking other people about their experiences, but other sources say that he worked as a coal miner himself for a short period in order to get experience and information related to his stories.

A Story That Has Stayed in My Mind

I've enjoyed How Green Was My Valley for many years. Huw has faults and can be criticized for some of his behaviour, but his memories create an interesting and sometimes moving story. I develop new ideas each time I read it.

I'm English (and Canadian), but I spent most of my childhood and my early teens in Wales. I still feel a connection to the country. Although I'm not Welsh, I can understand why some people are concerned about their cultural history being misrepresented in the book. I wish Richard Llewellyn was still alive so that he could respond to the criticism.

Beyond the historical problems, there are some points in the novel that don't seem logical or likely. They don't spoil the overall effect of the story for me, however. I think the book is an engrossing and memorable work of fiction that's worth reading.

References

• Facts about the General Strike in 1926 from Historic UK
• One of Wales' most famous novels was actually written by an Englishman from WalesOnline
• How phoney was my Welsh valley from The Guardian (This article was written shortly after proof of the author's deceptions emerged. I've noticed that at least some of the more recent articles related to the topic are kinder to the author.)
• Richard Llewellyn facts from the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
• Welshness and Britishness: The Case of Richard Llewellyn from the Social History Society in the UK

© 2021 Linda Crampton

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on September 10, 2021:

Thank you for the comment, Denise. Blessings to you as well.

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on September 10, 2021:

I've never been there, nor do I have any Welsh ancestry (only Scottish and English) but I always love the story and the movie. Parts were always a mystery to me because I don't know the culture and in that case, if there were discrepancies, I would have never known them. Thanks for this frank overview.

Blessings,

Denise

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on September 10, 2021:

I agree, Mary. Wales is fascinating to explore.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 18, 2021:

Hi, Flourish. You've raised an interesting point. There is some support for an independent Wales (that is, a country that isn't part of the UK), and the support seems to be growing. Some people in Wales are unhappy about the country's treatment by the British government. For many of them, the topic of Welsh identity is important

FlourishAnyway from USA on May 18, 2021:

I hadn't heard of this book but appreciate your account. How interesting that the author would embellish his background. What's the difference, I suppose, if he self-identifies as a Welshman? We let people self-identify in different ways these days.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Hi, Thelma. I love the book, too. Thank you for commenting.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on May 17, 2021:

I remember this book „How Green Was My Valley". I have read this book when I was spending Christmas vacation in Ireland. A wonderful book to read. Thank you for reminding me one of my green memories. I love this book.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts, Dean.

Dean Traylor from Southern California/Spokane, Washington (long story) on May 17, 2021:

This book was required required reading my senior year. The description, symbolism and use of slag really stands in this story.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Hi, Peggy. Yes, I think the book is worth reading. It's interesting for multiple reasons, including the ones that you've mentioned.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on May 17, 2021:

The fact that you have reread the first book multiple times tells me that it deserves reading. Coal mining was dangerous work, and that setting mixed with the family and neighborhood dynamics between people sounds interesting. Thanks for the review of this series of books.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Thank you for the comments, Devika. I hope you get a chance to read the book.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Thank you for sharing your experiences and the very interesting comment, DreamerMeg. It's sad to hear about your grandfather and the boy losing a limb.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on May 17, 2021:

Informative and the review is interesting and makes me want to consider the book. and the movie.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on May 17, 2021:

I heard of this ''How green was my valley'' I didn't read the book nor did I watch the film. Sounds like something I would and a well-written review about it.

DreamerMeg from Northern Ireland on May 17, 2021:

I saw a serialised adaptation of this as a child, about 1960. Loved the story and the music used. I lived in Wales at that time. My father was Welsh and he enjoyed the series too. I lived in Wales when Aberfan happened and lived in a village which also had a school built immediately below the spoil tip or slag heap. I used to play in the woods, near the reservoir that fed the mine and crossed the dram tracks where the drams took the slag to the top of the hill for tipping. You had to be careful crossing them, for the hawser would suddenly tighten and flash up into the air. One boy lost a leg that way. My Welsh grandfather lost an arm down the mines at the age of 14 years.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on May 17, 2021:

After reading your article, I now want to reread the book. Wales is such a fascinating place.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

It was probably a tradition at the time and in that culture that the man was in charge of the family. Nowadays women and men are often considered to be equally important with respect to their parental roles. I agree that Gwilym's behaviour was extreme, but it tells us something about his personality.

Miebakagh Fiberesima from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIGERIA. on May 17, 2021:

It would have been okay when the father stays with the assistant parent or (son, or daughter). What's the wisdom of a father giving up his homestead to a disobedient boy? Sure, it make no sense. Let the women laugh loud.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Hi, Bill. Yes, I think you might enjoy the novel. It has some faults, as most books do, but I love it.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Hi, Pamela. I had to smile at your comment about all fathers having to quit if their children disobeyed them. That would certainly be the case! I appreciate your visit.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Hi, Lady Dazy. Thanks for commenting. I enjoy reading fictional books that contain links to real events.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 17, 2021:

Thank you, Chitrangada. I appreciate your comment very much. It is interesting that the book is still appreciated by many people

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on May 17, 2021:

I love the setting. It sounds like a novel I would enjoy. Thanks so much, Linda!

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on May 17, 2021:

This is an excellent review of this book, Linda. I haven't read the book or seen the movie. This book sounds really interesting. I can't imagine a father more or less resigning when a child disobeys. All father would have to quit. Haha

This book sounds like there are many interesting aspects to the story, and I am quite sure I would really enjoy this story. Thanks for this good review.

Lady Dazy from UK on May 17, 2021:

Good article , interesting book, I love reading books like this.

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on May 17, 2021:

Excellent piece of writing and a wonderful review of the novel, How green was my valley.

The fact that it was published in 1939, but is still being talked about, and analysed, itself proves, that people over generations have liked the story. There can be diverse opinions and that's okay.

I was touched to see your father's copy of the book. How beautiful!

Thank you for sharing this.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

Thank you very much for such an interesting and detailed comment, gyanendra.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

Thank you very much, Liz. I appreciate your comment about this article and your efforts to find my last one. You certainly don't need to apologize!

gyanendra mocktan from Kathmandu,Nepal on May 16, 2021:

I haven't read the book. But I've had opportunity to watch the movie in my school days in Catholic School in Tezpur, Assam

As a child I enjoyed the film and it has helped me build up my English Language skill. (Many other English films included.)

Then in the 80's I read an article in a national Daily: How Green Was My Valley by late Dubbie Bhagat. Using the connotation the writer tried to menrion how Kathmandu Valley was slowly getting crowed due rapid construction of the concrete buildings. These days if one sees deeply this Valley, it looks like a concteate jungle.

While reading Dubbie's article flash of memory had appeared in my mind.

Critiques may have their right to shed light on the book. If the writer hadn't written the book ifself, the critques wouldn't have appeared.

As I understand these days from that movie: I think that was the beginning of Industrial age. And side by side the seed of capitalism and communism was planted in the society.

Thank you

Liz Westwood from UK on May 16, 2021:

This is an excellent article. I have heard of this book, but never read it. Your article has given me a good insight into it. I especially appreciate your balanced approach in exploring some of the criticism that has been levelled at the author about his Welshness and the accuracy of some of the content. At the first mention of slag heaps, I thought of Aberfan too.

Apologies for not commenting on your last article. I tried every way I could when I got the email, but as it was not on my feed, I could not get to the comments section. Hence the quick action this time, before it gets moved to the new format.

Miebakagh Fiberesima from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIGERIA. on May 16, 2021:

Linda, you're welcome.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

Thank you for the kind and detailed comment, Misbah. I appreciate your visit. Blessings and peace to you as well. I hope you have a great week.

Misbah Sheikh on May 16, 2021:

You have written an amazing and very detailed book review, Linda.

The story of the novel sounds very interesting and as you said it's worth reading and every time when you read it you develop new ideas. I like your wish saying, " I wish Richard Llewellyn was still alive so that he could respond to the criticism."

As you mentioned you read this book in your childhood and you still have the copy of the book and you like to read it occasionally. I am sure it's worth reading. Thanks for sharing your emotional bond with this novel

I enjoyed reading about this novel.

Blessings and Peace

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

Hi, Dora. Thank you for the comment, I enjoy exploring different cultures and family traditions as well.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on May 16, 2021:

The story of family always fascinates me. Set in a culture and work environment different than mine only makes it more compelling. Thanks for this interesting review, and thanks also for that map of the United Kingdom, which is a lesson in itself.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

I appreciate your comment very much, Ravi. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 16, 2021:

Think you very much for the comment, Miebakagh.

Ravi Rajan from Mumbai on May 16, 2021:

This looks like a compelling story Linda. The plot looks very promising and the movie would be worth watching. The author being Welsh or not or even being blamed of misinterpreting the facts would always remain in the background but as long as the story is poignant and beautiful, only that matters in this end. Thanks for sharing this wonderful book review.

Miebakagh Fiberesima from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIGERIA. on May 16, 2021:

Linda, thought I'm not in anyway relate to the story, it's an informing and interesting read. The family seems nice, beautiful, and wonderful. The book has a rich history.

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Source: https://owlcation.com/humanities/How-Green-Was-My-Valley-A-Memorable-Novel-Set-in-Wales

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