How Green Was My Valley is Richard Llewellyn’s bestselling—and timeless—classic, as well as the basis of a beloved film. As Huw Morgan is about to leave home forever, he reminisces about the golden days of his youth when South Wales still prospered, when coal dust had not yet blackened the valley. Drawn simply and lovingly, with a crisp Welsh humor, Llewellyn’s characters fight, love, laugh, and cry, creating an indelible portrait of a people.
This much-loved book won the National Book Award for favorite novel of 1940.
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"Just saw a posting for How Green Was My Valley. My memory of reading this novel was total immersion in the setting, the story, the characters and the music motif winding through the book. I do love old classics, perhaps for the depiction of love and selflessness and grueling tenacity in times of deep struggle (in some...not all). Fond memories... No adultry or sordid sex. Amazing."
— Deyanne (4 out of 5 stars)
“A story of exquisite distinction and vibrant interest; clear and strong as the music under the sky.”
— New York Times Book Review“It took me up and flung me beyond time and silence. All I did was listen…You’ll never be the same after Richard Llewellyn has worked his magic.”
— Los Angeles Times“A beautiful story told in words which have Welsh music in them…a book which will live in the mind and memory of its readers.”
— Atlantic Monthly“The reader emerges from these tense pages strangely aglow with sharing the happiness of the characters…The simplicity of the language and its delicately strange flavor give the book added charm.”
— Chicago Tribune“This classic story…is so compelling, especially with Ralph Cosham’s narration, that it is difficult to believe that it is pure fiction and not a memoir…[Cosham’s] mellifluous voice is a perfect fit for the story, bringing the softness and nostalgia that the writing commands and deserves. The humorous scenes are as effectively delivered as are the tragic, rounding out a performance that will stick with listeners long after they have played the last CD.”
— SoundCommentary.com (starred review)" Lessons learned in a tiny Welsh mining town, now green only in the author's memory. A classic! "
— Gail, 2/16/2014" Great read! A nice trip into 1930's Wales...period-appropriate dialogue and a great cast. Tugs at the heartstrings without descending into schmaltz. There is a page-turner it is. "
— Alex, 1/29/2014" I had a hard time getting into this book and often found myself dosing off because there was too much going on. Lengthy descriptions of things that seemed irrelevant, the welsh accent and I couldn't figure out the point of this book. I know it has beautiful writing but it's just not my style. "
— Heather, 1/27/2014" One of my all time favorite books, its one of those must read books. Loved the story, loved the characters, just a great book!!! "
— Cynthia, 1/11/2014" Really enjoyed both the story and the language in this book about a Welsh coal-mining family and the decline of their once-prosperous valley. "
— Loralee, 1/11/2014" Read it twice as a teenager, I liked it so much. "
— Janis, 1/9/2014" I read this book about 20 years ago but didn't realise it unil I finally listened to it. As I was listening I realised - I've read this book! I remember it now! Such a great book. "
— Robin, 1/9/2014" I remember picking this book off Mom and Dad's bookshelf in the basement and reading it a long time ago, maybe eighth or ninth grade. I still remember how much I liked it then. I saw it in my recommendations shelf and had to add it to my list. "
— Kathy, 12/23/2013" achingly beautiful. "
— Gabrielle, 12/21/2013" Beautifully-written story about the power of family, faith and community. Loved this book! "
— Christina, 12/16/2013" This is the second time I have read the book and I have also seen the movie. It is an enjoyable read and I would certainly recommend it. "
— Judy, 12/16/2013Richard Llewellyn (1906–1983), a Welsh novelist, was born in Hendon, England, in the county of Middlesex. Before World War II, he spent periods working in hotels, wrote a play, worked as a coal miner, and produced his best known novel, How Green Was My Valley, as well as nineteen other novels. After the war he worked as a journalist, covering the Nuremberg Trials, and then as a screenwriter for MGM.
Geoffrey Howard (a.k.a. Ralph Cosham) was a stage actor and an award-winning narrator. He recorded more than 100 audiobooks in his lifetime and won the prestigious Audio Award for Best Narration and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.