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, 12/16/2013" I read this book as a child in grade school and became engrossed with Irish culture. I found the characters to be well conceived and memorable. "
— Casey, 12/15/2013" A family fav. It took me a few pages to get into it, but once I was into it, it was very hard to put down. I fell in love with the characters and want still to know more about their lives. "
— Nelliejane, 11/30/2013" I really enjoyed this book. Yes it was slow, but it was such a cute story. I loved the characters and the perspective of little Huw. I don't think I was as observant as he was at his age, but it was beautifully written. "
— Cindi, 11/30/2013" Touching, moving, and descriptive language that makes it easy to place yourself in the setting if you've been anywhere in Wales. "
— Caitlin, 4/26/2013" The image of the slag heap moving to bury the city...... "
— Lisa, 3/29/2013" I'm glad I'm not a coal miner "
— Hugh, 2/19/2013" This is probably the best book I have ever read, ever. The language was gorgeous and the characters were beautiful. It was an honest, lovely description of childhood--probably the most honest one I have ever read. I would recommend this book unequivocally to EVERYONE. "
— kyliemm, 2/12/2013" The language of this novel is poetry. One of my favorites. "
— Murray, 1/25/2013" Beautifully written book. I have read of a lot entertaining books recently, but this is good literature! "
— Jodi, 1/12/2013" this is a beautiful, heart-rending book. I'm not eloquent, so this won't be a long review, but I highly, highly recommend it. It makes my chest ache just thinking about it. It's really lovely. "
— Katherine, 8/21/2012" Simply a very special book. "
— Teryl, 4/7/2012" One of the best books I've ever read. The movie is beautiful and wonderful to behold, wait until you read the book. Amazing! "
— Lynn, 3/10/2012" I couldn't really get into it. "
— Erin, 1/7/2012" I really enjoyed this book. It made me appreciate the simpler things in life and made me look at the outside world with a new appreciation. "
— Amy, 12/5/2011" "c1939:""I am going to pack my two shirts with my other socks and my best suit in the little blue cloth my mother used to tie round her hair when she did the house, and I am going from the Valley." Still an intriguing read after all this time. "
— Ruth, 12/2/2011" Written with Welsh music in it. "
— Razeq, 5/2/2011" I loved this book,it was such an easy read and a book I couldn't put down,there was just something so beautiful about it. "
— Lara, 4/11/2011" Powerful family saga with a strong sense of place in Wales. So beautifully written that one can't help falling in love with this timeless story. It is filled with love, lyrical language, and realistic unforgettable characters. <br/>Reading this book was a wonderful journey... "
— Gwen, 4/5/2011" Watched the movie instead. I liked it. "
— Jill, 4/3/2011" A solid 3 1/2 stars for this book. The description of "the valley" was beautiful. "
— Melanie, 3/21/2011" One of my very favorite ever. Llewelyn's characters are finely drawn, and you feel you know these people. Your heart aches with their sorrows, sings with their joys. And the valley is a "character" as well, and as the valley goes, so goes the family at the core of the story. Great book. "
— Kim, 3/18/2011" Not a quick read, but completely transported me! "
— Pamela, 3/7/2011" This book is slow in parts but a beautifully written book of memories. It made me reflect on my own life and those that have come and gone in my own life. "
— Cora, 2/12/2011" This book had a lot of lovable characters and good story lines. I gave it a 2 star because it was so slow for me & I didn't feel like it was a very good wrapped up ending. I am glad I read it but once will be enough for me. "
— Tandy, 2/11/2011" I really enjoyed this book. Yes it was slow, but it was such a cute story. I loved the characters and the perspective of little Huw. I don't think I was as observant as he was at his age, but it was beautifully written. "
— Cindi, 2/11/2011" Beautifully written book by Richard Llewellyn about the Welsh coal mines. Difficult reading and dark. "
— Alleyheidi, 2/8/2011" Although this took me a couple weeks to finish I thought it was beautifully written. The author catapulted me to the time and era he wrote about. "
— Wendy, 2/7/2011" When, many years ago, this book about a coal mining family in South Wales, was assigned for me to read in junior high school, it became one of my allt-time favorites; the first book that I ever was actually unable to put down. "
— M., 2/1/2011" A very satisfying read; definitely a classic. Must see if I can find the DVD version. "
— Ruth, 1/22/2011Richard 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.