Later adapted into a 1941 award-winning Hollywood film, directed by John Ford

Llewellyn, Richard ~ How Green Was My Valley

First UK Printing : Michael Joseph Ltd., London : 1939

The First UK Printing published by Michael Joseph Ltd., London in 1939. Large 8vo., burgundy cloth lettered in silver to spine with publisher's device to foot; yellow endpapers; together in the unclipped printed wrapper (8/6 net to front flap) featuring a title design in black, red, green and white; The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition with the spine lightly pushed at the ends ; one small very faint ring mark to the upper cover; and some light spotting to the endpapers and outer edges of the text block; The WRAPPER is in Very Good++ condition with rubbing along the folds and with one small corner crease to the front flap; spine slightly toned; small losses, creasing and rubbing to spine tips with some small tears running into title lettering and a couple of short closed tears extending into the panels (max 3cm in length). The wrapper remains very attractive and is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Llewellyn was born in 1906 in Middlesex to parents of Welsh descent, and his Welsh heritage had a large part to play in the publication of his first novel, 'How Green Was My Valley', which was preceded in 1938 by a play, 'Poison Pen'. The story, which is told from the perspective of the protagonist Huw Morgan, tells his coming-of-age story, and that of his family living and working in the Welsh mining community in the Valleys. Llewellyn claimed for the whole of his life that he was born in St Davids, West Wales. He also claimed that the plot for the novel was based on his own personal experiences, though both of these claims later turned out to be false. Instead, the story is based upon the experiences of local mining families in the village of Gilfach Goch, in southeast Wales, which he reportedly heard after travelling there with his grandfather. It has since become his best-known work, noted for its frank portrayal of the bleak and often highly dangerous conditions facing mining families in the late 19th century. Three sequels followed, and it was later adapted into a 1941 award-winning Hollywood film, directed by John Ford. Scarce in the wrapper.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Very Good++