How Green Was My Valley

Huw Morgan tells the story of his life in a Welsh village, where everything is slowly destroyed by the coal mines--from the lives of the workers and their families to their very houses, which are being buried under heaps of mining slag. Llewellyn's novel can make for difficult reading in the print version, with its unusual names and unfamiliar dialect. But Ralph Cosham's gentle, straightforward narration makes the story easy to understand and even enhances the beautiful writing "so that the rich taste of magnificent English may come to the ears and go to the head like the perfumes of the Magi . . ."--to quote Llewellyn. Indelible descriptions of scenery, tastes, smells, and human behavior will have listeners rewinding, wanting to savor the experience again. M.M.G. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

British actor Phillip Madoc's outstanding narration conveys all of the warmth and affection of this 1939 classic about growing up in a Welsh coal-mining village. Endearing without being overly sentimental, Madoc's perfect Welsh accent differentiates the characters clearly, consistently and fondly. His low personal tones throughout the first-person narrative speak from the heart and draw the listener into an engrossing tale. This audio production coincides with the long-awaited video release of the 1941 Academy Award-winning film based on the same story. S.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Hats off to one of the most enjoyable audiobooks in years! The 60-year-old Welsh author recalls his childhood amid the lush, green hills where his coal-mining family struggled with companies and unions in the shadow of the advancing slag heap. Tull's reading is a rich, unforgettable performance, flavored with character and extravagant care. We hear his many voices as much as Llewellyn's: his pauses, his rhythms, his sheer delight and his sorrows. If Oscars could be awarded for audio performances (and why shouldn't they?), his flawless reading deserves one. P.E.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine