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Mortymer Trilogy #3
Song of the Earth
Mostyn Evan and his family, miners turned bargees, wage a glorious but hopeless struggle against rapacious coalmasters, Irish navvies, the ravages of cholera, and the bullying illegal Unions.As they ply their trade between the furnaces of Cyfarthfa and the lush beauty of the Neath Valley, they pray and fight, sing and love, and face each obstacle undaunted with all the stubbornness and exuberance of Wales itself.This is the third instalment in Alexander Cordell's magnificent saga of nineteenth century Wales that began with classic bestseller The Rape of the Fair Country.
332 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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About the author
Alexander Cordell
44 books9 followersAnglo-Welsh writer born to an army family in what was then Ceylon.
After retiring from the army he adopted Wales as home and began to write of the country and its history. His first, and best-known novel, the Rape of the Fair Country (first in the Mortymer Trilogy) was a million selling best-seller in its day.
After retiring from the army he adopted Wales as home and began to write of the country and its history. His first, and best-known novel, the Rape of the Fair Country (first in the Mortymer Trilogy) was a million selling best-seller in its day.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 8, 2019
In this installment of the Mortymer trilogy we hear of the Evans family headed by Mostyn Evans who works as a bargee as does the rest of the men in his family but with the canals faced with closure due to the introduction of Brunel's railway system the Evans family have to move and try a new way of life amidst the strikers of the coal pits and faced with starvation or becoming a "Scab" morally the family is torn apart.
A stark, harsh yet realistic portrayal of life in the valleys during the industrial revolution and how modern advances of the time caused heartbreak and poverty for the lower classes under the masters boot heels.
A stark, harsh yet realistic portrayal of life in the valleys during the industrial revolution and how modern advances of the time caused heartbreak and poverty for the lower classes under the masters boot heels.
July 26, 2013
Fantastic. Alexander Cordell is the best author writing about Wales. Took a bit of the wedding ceremony in this one for my own wedding!
May 3, 2022
This is yet another of my "re-read" books. I got it back in 1970 in the good old days of Book Club Associates and didn't realise that it was the final in the trilogy that starts with "Rape of the Fair Country" and "The Hosts of Rebecca". Having read "Song of the Earth" I went and bought the earlier two. Then, as now, I think it the best of them: the additional humour alone takes it higher.
My interest in the book (s) is that my late father-in-law, of whom I was very fond, came from the very valley that the book has as its main physical core. The writing is in the Welsh-English that I heard when visiting my wife's family there (I read it in their accent !) as is the tragedy of the miners in the family who risked life, limb and lungs in the mining industry. Coal was on its way out when I was last there in 1969, but even then everything from my motorcycle and sidecar to the grass to the pit ponies on the Brecon Beacons to poor old Aunt Mae's washing was covered in coal grit: it was a grey world.
To the book: the synopsis at the head of the pages says it all really: the life, births, deaths, marriages and courtships of the Evan family as told by the youngest son, Bryn. From coal to canal to coal and finally railway navvying al the time striving to make a living whilst being hindered by harsh masters on the one hand and illegal unions on the other.
I would suggest you start with "Rape of the Fair Country" but this book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
It took me a week to read, but that was due to my personal circumstances and normally it would be a two day book.
My interest in the book (s) is that my late father-in-law, of whom I was very fond, came from the very valley that the book has as its main physical core. The writing is in the Welsh-English that I heard when visiting my wife's family there (I read it in their accent !) as is the tragedy of the miners in the family who risked life, limb and lungs in the mining industry. Coal was on its way out when I was last there in 1969, but even then everything from my motorcycle and sidecar to the grass to the pit ponies on the Brecon Beacons to poor old Aunt Mae's washing was covered in coal grit: it was a grey world.
To the book: the synopsis at the head of the pages says it all really: the life, births, deaths, marriages and courtships of the Evan family as told by the youngest son, Bryn. From coal to canal to coal and finally railway navvying al the time striving to make a living whilst being hindered by harsh masters on the one hand and illegal unions on the other.
I would suggest you start with "Rape of the Fair Country" but this book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
It took me a week to read, but that was due to my personal circumstances and normally it would be a two day book.
October 25, 2024
The narrator of ‘Song of The Earth’ is Bryn Evan, the youngest son of Mostyn Evan. Loss, & bereavement percolates the whole narrative. The Mortymer family is linked to The Mostyn Evan family through the marriage of Mostyn to Mari who appears in The second novel & the first of the trilogy.
The last chapter is a bringing together of the events of ‘The Song of the Earth.’.
Set in mid Victorian Wales during a period of industrial and social upheaval. It is well written but very distressing.
Another theme is the exploitation of the poor by the rich & greedy miners who want to put personal gain over the well-being of the community at large. Alexander Cordell, the author clearly satires the wealthy industrialists for their greed.
The last chapter is a bringing together of the events of ‘The Song of the Earth.’.
Set in mid Victorian Wales during a period of industrial and social upheaval. It is well written but very distressing.
Another theme is the exploitation of the poor by the rich & greedy miners who want to put personal gain over the well-being of the community at large. Alexander Cordell, the author clearly satires the wealthy industrialists for their greed.
February 11, 2025
My least favourite of the trilogy, I didn't warm to the Evan family as much as the Mortymers and the resulting lack of enthusiasm saw that it took a while to get through the book. However, whenever I did read it I enjoyed it. This was the funniest book of the series, with plenty of amusing moments alongside the suffering of the miners and their families
September 22, 2017
My least favourite of the mortymer trilogy but still a great read. Some of the book is set in my old home town which makes it even more inter sting
June 15, 2020
Makes you feel proud to be Welsh. This Author paints a colourful picture of the hard times and good times of Welsh life in the nineteenth century.
January 17, 2022
Mortymer family made their mark.
February 27, 2016
Algupärase Walesi-triloogia 3. osa (hiljem kirjutas Cordell veel teise triloogia, kus Iestyn Mortymer saabub Afganistanist tagasi, kaasas kohaliku khaani tütar, aga ma pole nii kaugele veel jõudnud). Poeetilis-traagiline pilguheit Walesi tööstuse sünni juurde. Kui esimeses romaanis (Rüvetatud kaunis maa, ka eesti keeles olemas) vaadeldi rausalutajaid ja teises (Host of Rebecca) väikemaaomanike mittekohanemist industrialiseeruva kodumaaga, siis selles siin on alguses juttu lodjaomanikest, kes mööda kanaleid kaupu veavad, lõpus aga on tegelasteks söekaevurid. Juba tuttav pooleldi keel põses rahvalik huumor segamini äärmise tragöödia, viletsuse ja masendusega - mõned peategelased saavad kurvalt surma, aga see on omane kogu triloogiale. Ega siin Eestis elu vist kergem polnud aga no meil polnud ei söekaevandusi ega rauasulatusahjusid. Igal pool oma traagika ja koorem kanda. Üldiselt - ilgelt hea, aga Cordelli poeetiline jutustamine vajab veidi harjumist, nagu ka keeleoskus peab hea olema. Vaevalt et keegi seda kunagi eesti keelde tõlgib, seega kui keegi huvi tunneb pöörduge minu poole.
March 6, 2014
Excellent
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews