How Green Was My Valley (Penguin Modern Classics)

Impossible to adequately convey the immense beauty of this book, unforgettable in its originality of prose and in its many memorable characters. The story eloquently conveys the struggles and joys of a Welsh community during an era of enormous cultural and societal transitions, the early 20th century. In my "legacy collection" of books that I have been assembling since I was a teen, to pass on to my children, along with Gilead, To Kill A Mockingbird, Samurai's Garden,........

Having enjoyed the movie version many times I was curious about the book from which the movie came. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and was impressed with how faithful to the book the film was. If you liked the movie, you'll like the book.

Re-reading "How Green Was My Valley" was exciting as I tried to recall some of their adventures. It is a wonderfully written book by a very talented author. Pick it up and read it or as I, reread as an adventure back in time.

I thoroughly enjoyed How Green Was My Valley--the author's writing captured the feeling of the Welsh countryside and the family connections were lovely. I rated it 5 stars because it is head and shoulders above so much of today's writing. Our book group had a lively and involved discussion of this selection.

Outstanding 1939 novel about a tough, resilient late 19th-century Welsh family in a coal-mining community who relentlessly battlle scarce work, unfair wages, discrimination by the British government and people, brutal police, narrow-minded locals and manipulative religious dogma. IMO this is a classic, & a book I strongly recommend to all. A revelation for me, as I had never even heard of it until two weeks ago.

Poignant and haunting novel of a fiercely independent family of Welsh miners who grapple with the changes that corrupt the innocence of their Valley and the centuries of traditions that bind them to each other. Borders on being allegorical...life-changing

this is a beautiful story and well written but hard to read at times. It is written in Welsh dialect so that at times it needs an interpretor. The movie stops before half way through the book. I enjoyed every bit of it. Entrigued by the names.

I like difficult names and plots I was readying to abandon it then found it on PBS. Wow what a difference to know ho w the dialect sounded. Plus the names! Wonderful. Too bad. Movies always have to sacrifice so much in the telling! Sad really. But expected.

Classical literature, wonderful story about a Welsh mining village and the history of one family, and the happiness and tragedies they endured to survive thier only employment, working in the collieries. Then see the Academy Award winning film... a near perfedt adaptation.

Mr. Llewellyn's use of the English language is exquisite. The story is frequently sad but the love and warmth of the family and Mr. Griffiths shows how adversity can be overcome. I highly recommend this book and am awaiting the delivery of the next book he wrote.

This story is history at it's most readable, most enjoyable and most understandable. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a fairly obscure bit of history, if only because it is to beautifully written, a joy to read.

A wonderful and nostalgic evocation of the south Wales valleys and their destruction through industrialisation. The fate of the close Morgan family parallels this process of transition and decay. A "coming of age" novel both for the lead character/narrator and the Welsh nation.

This book, though first published in 1939 or 1940, is very relevant today. This story of a Welsh coal mining town and a vanishing way of life is a poignant chronicle of how our need for energy has pushed all else aside. I've read it several times and find more with each reading.

I remember this story from childhood. This was one of the books in my home, so I wanted to have my own copy. And I'm not disappointed; it's a lovely story about life in Wales in a much earlier time.

You can almost smell the food, visualize the buildings and landscape, feel the joy's, and sufferings, of an age gone by and struggling of a new age emerging! It gave me a perspective of the way of life my family came from and why we evolved the way we did in our new chosen country. One of the best books I have ever read!

Poignant and haunting novel of a fiercely independent family of Welsh miners who grapple with the changes that corrupt the innocence of their Valley and the centuries of traditions that bind them to each other. Borders on being allegorical...life-changing

Outstanding 1939 novel about a tough, resilient late 19th-century Welsh family in a coal-mining community who relentlessly battlle scarce work, unfair wages, discrimination by the British government and people, brutal police, narrow-minded locals and manipulative religious dogma. IMO this is a classic, & a book I strongly recommend to all. A revelation for me, as I had never even heard of it until two weeks ago.

Having enjoyed the movie version many times I was curious about the book from which the movie came. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and was impressed with how faithful to the book the film was. If you liked the movie, you'll like the book.

Dense prose, almost like poetry. A rustic Welch cake, served with unsweetened clotted cream. Studded with currents and dusted with sugar. This story is one you can savor as young Huw grows up and gently takes us with him on his journey through injury, injustice, lust and love. Take your time and enjoy every page.

I thoroughly enjoyed How Green Was My Valley--the author's writing captured the feeling of the Welsh countryside and the family connections were lovely. I rated it 5 stars because it is head and shoulders above so much of today's writing. Our book group had a lively and involved discussion of this selection.