
In the summer of 1876 a small Welsh village becomes the backdrop for a tale that the whole nation has heard—an acclaimed act of bravery by a handful of miners that made headlines across the land. Yet the narrator, Gwladys, insists that the public version only scratches the surface, and she feels compelled to record the hidden heart of those ten unforgettable days. Her voice, rooted in the rhythms of Welsh speech and song, promises a personal perspective that goes beyond the celebrated heroics.
From a window seat in the old nursery, Gwladys watches the sea, fields, and distant hills while wrestling with a profound sense of loneliness. The vivid countryside, with its golden corn and autumn‑clad woods, is described in lush detail, but for her it feels monotonous and suffocating. As she questions the very idea of being “buried alive,” her melancholy hints at deeper family secrets and the unspoken strains of life in a place where the landscape is both a blessing and a burden.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (299K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2013-07-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1854–1914
Best known for lively girls’ school stories and a huge range of popular fiction, this Irish-born writer helped shape late Victorian and Edwardian reading for young audiences. She was remarkably prolific, writing adventure tales, mysteries, historical fiction, and stories that reached far beyond the schoolroom.
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