How Green Was My Valley is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own experiences, but this was found after his death to be untrue; Llewellyn was English-born and spent little time in Wales, though he was of Welsh descent.[1] Llewellyn gathered material for the novel from conversations with local mining families in the village of Gilfach Goch, in southeast Wales.[1]
Huw's academic ability sets him apart from his elder brothers and enables him to consider a future away from the dangerous coal mines. He loses his opportunity because of fighting with a schoolmaster who punishes children for speaking Welsh. His five brothers and his father are miners. After his eldest brother, Ivor, is killed in a mining accident, Huw moves in with Ivor's young widow, Bronwen, with whom he has always secretly been in love.[3]
One of Huw's three sisters, Angharad, marries Iestyn Evans, the wealthy mine owner's son – whom she does not love – and the marriage is an unhappy one. She never overcomes her romantic relationship with Merddyn Gruffydd, a local minister, who had declined to marry her because of his poverty.
Huw's father is later killed in a mine disaster. After everyone Huw has known either dies or moves away, and the village is reduced to a contaminated shell, and the house is being destroyed by a slag heap, he too decides to leave, and tells the story of his life just before going away.
Characters
The Older Morgans:
Gwilym Morgan, Huw's father: wants things done properly, with attention to manners, and a minding of one's own business
Beth Morgan, Huw's mother: devoted to her children and husband, uneducated, struggles with her temper
Ivor Morgan, Huw's eldest brother, marries Bronwen, sides with the father against the strike, defends sister Angharad against Iestyn Evans' initial familiarity
Bronwen Morgan, Huw's sister-in-law: a gentle, insightful woman to whom Huw goes when he is troubled or wants to learn information that the adults hold from him. She is the mother of young boys, Gareth and Taliesin
The Middle Brothers:
These are Huw's young adult brothers. Ianto goes to London to find work early in the book, but returns unhappily; Owen and Gwilym do the same later.
Ianto Morgan, Huw's second-oldest brother
Davy Morgan, a leader in the miners' union, marries Ethelwyn Rowlands
Owen Morgan, an inventor, often found in the shed behind the house working on an engine
Gwilym Morgan (junior), married to Marged Evans after Owen breaks off with her
Merddyn Gruffydd, the preacher who is loved by Angharad, helps Huw recover from his illness, and is supportive of the Morgans
Iestyn Evans, an arrogant dandy, son of the mine owner, who courts Angharad. According to Young Gwilym, "a purse-proud ninny"
Master Elijah Jonas-Sessions, a harsh teacher who makes Huw's life miserable. He is pro-English, and ashamed of his Welsh heritage
Ceinwen Phillips, a manipulative young girl in love with Huw
Abishai Elias the Shop, enemy of the Morgan family
Dai Bando, Huw's boxing teacher
Cyfartha Lewis, Dai's close friend
First printing
The first edition was published in 1939 by Michael Joseph Ltd, London.[4] The first printing included a limited edition run of 200, numbered and signed by Richard Llewellyn. The original print run also included a glossary covering Welsh words and terms at the end of the book.
The armed services edition of How Green Was My Valley
Sequels
The author continued the story of Huw Morgan's life in three sequels:
The 1941 Hollywood film adaptation, which was highly successful, had a cast that included Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall (as Huw), Donald Crisp, and Barry Fitzgerald. None of the leading players was Welsh (though Welsh actor Rhys Williams made his screen debut in the film in a minor role). Directed by John Ford, How Green Was My Valley was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. How Green Was My Valley is available on DVD from 20th Century Fox as part of their 20th Century Fox Studio Classics collection.
The novel was adapted as a Broadway musical, called A Time for Singing, which opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York, on 21 May 1966. The music was by John Morris; book and lyrics were by Gerald Freedman and John Morris. The production was directed by Mr. Freedman, and it starred Ivor Emmanuel, Tessie O'Shea, Shani Wallis, and Laurence Naismith.
