60 pages 2 hours read

Richard Llewellyn

How Green Was My Valley

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1939

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn is a historical novel recounting the life of Huw Morgan, a scholarly young man from a working-class Welsh family in a mining town. The story follows Huw's observations and experiences as his family faces strikes, economic hardship, and personal tragedies while grappling with societal changes and environmental degradation in their community. The book includes references to community violence and environmental destruction.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Richard Llewellyn's How Green Was My Valley is lauded for its lyrical prose and vivid depiction of a Welsh mining community. Readers appreciate its deep emotional impact and rich character development. However, some critique the novel's pacing and occasional sentimentality. Overall, it remains a powerful exploration of family and societal change.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How Green Was My Valley?

A reader who enjoys How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn likely appreciates historical fiction with rich, emotional narratives and vivid settings. Fans of works like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith or Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt may find similar resonance in this novel.

Recommended

Reading Age

14+years

Lexile Level

1000L

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

British Literature

Themes

Society: Politics & Government

Society: Community

Self Discovery

Topics

History: World