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{{Short description|1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn}}
{{About|the novel|the film|How Green Was My Valley (film)|the British TV series|How Green Was My Valley (1960 TV series)|and|How Green Was My Valley (1975 TV series)|the Georgian film|Great Green Valley}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Infobox book 
  | name           = How Green Was My Valley
  | image          = HowGreen.jpg
  | caption        = First edition cover
  | author         = [[Richard Llewellyn]]
  | country        = United Kingdom
  | language       = English
  | cover_artist   = 
  | genre          = Historical fiction
  | publisher      = [[Michael Joseph (publisher)|Michael Joseph]]
  | release_date   = 1939
  | media_type     = Print (hardcover)
  | pages          = 651
  | oclc           = 299207
  | preceded_by    = 
  | followed_by    = [[Up, into the Singing Mountain]] (1960)
}}

'''''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 in Wales|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 doubtful; Llewellyn was English-born and spent little time in Wales, though he was of Welsh descent.<ref name="Wales Arts">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/richard-llewellyn/index.shtml | title=Richard Llewellyn| publisher=BBC Wales | date=28 November 2008 | access-date=25 December 2011}}</ref> Llewellyn gathered material for the novel from conversations with local mining families in the village of [[Gilfach Goch]], in southeast Wales.<ref name="Wales Arts"/>

In the United States, Llewellyn won the [[List of National Book Award winners#1935 to 1941|National Book Award]] for favourite novel of 1940, voted by members of the [[American Booksellers Association]].<ref name=nyt1941>
"Books and Authors", ''The New York Times'', 16 February 1941, page BR12. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851–2007).</ref>

==Plot summary==

The novel is set in [[South Wales]] during the reigns of [[Queen Victoria]] and King [[Edward VII]]. It tells the story of the Morgans, a respectable mining family of the [[South Wales Valleys]], through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan.

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.<ref>The female first name "Bronwen" – hitherto known only in Wales – was introduced to the English-speaking public at large (see Sheard, K. M. (2011), {{Google books|FVyHTUQnnBgC|Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Names|page=110}}, {{ISBN|9780738723686}}).</ref>

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

'''The Younger Morgans:''' 
*Angharad Morgan, Huw's sister, marries Iestyn Evans
*Ceridwen Morgan, Huw's sister, marries Blethyn Llywarch
*Huw Morgan, the Narrator
*Olwen Morgan, Huw's youngest sister


'''Other characters:'''
*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 (publisher)|Michael Joseph Ltd]], London.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091004063515/http://www3.isrl.illinois.edu/~unsworth/courses/bestsellers/search.cgi?title=How+Green+Was+My+Valley] </ref> 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. <!--this section can include later printings, and section renamed to reflect this information-->
<!--==Awards==
*"Bookseller's Favorite Fiction" ([[Publishers Weekly|Publishers Weekly]], v. 139, p.837) United States 1941-->
[[File:How-green-was-my-valley-armed-services-edition-1024.jpg|thumb|The armed services edition of How Green Was My Valley]]

==Sequels==
The author continued the story of Huw Morgan's life in three sequels:
*''[[Up, into the Singing Mountain]]'' (1960) – Huw emigrates to the [[Y Wladfa|Welsh colony]] in [[Patagonia]], Argentina
*''Down Where the Moon is Small'' (1966) – Huw's life in Argentina
*''[[Green, Green My Valley Now]]'' (1975) – Huw returns to Wales

==Adaptations==
{{main article|How Green Was My Valley (film)}}
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 book has twice been adapted by the [[BBC]] for television, in 1960 and 1975. The [[How Green Was My Valley (1960 TV series)|1960 adaptation]] featured [[Eynon Evans]], [[Rachel Thomas (actress)|Rachel Thomas]] and [[Glyn Houston]]. The [[How Green Was My Valley (mini-series)|1975 production]], scripted by [[Elaine Morgan]], starred [[Stanley Baker]], [[Siân_Phillips|(Dame) Siân Phillips]], and [[Nerys Hughes]].

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.

A stage version, adapted by [[Shaun McKenna]] was performed at the [[Royal Theatre (Northampton)|Theatre Royal]] in [[Northampton]] in 1990.  It marked the stage debut of [[Aled Jones]] as the teenage Huw. It was directed by [[Michael Napier Brown]] and designed by Ray Lett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shaunmckenna.net/#/how-green-was-my-valley/4559746578 |title=HOME - Shaun McKenna |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-date=27 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227014416/http://shaunmckenna.net/#/how-green-was-my-valley/4559746578 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

In 2017, the book was also adapted as a short film, parts of which are shown in the music video<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/564107696/alt-j-make-a-breathtaking-short-film-for-pleader|title=alt-J Make A Breathtaking Short Film For 'Pleader'|website=Npr.org|access-date=2017-11-26|language=en}}</ref> for the song Pleader<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2017/11/15/alt-j-pleader-video-epic-share|title=Alt-J essentially make their own period drama for their 'Pleader' video|website=Diymag.com|date=15 November 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-26}}</ref> by the band [[alt-J]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1939 British novels]]
[[Category:Anglo-Welsh novels]]
[[Category:Books about Wales]]
[[Category:National Book Award for Fiction–winning works]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Novels set in Wales]]
[[Category:Valleys of Wales]]
[[Category:Novels about mining]]
[[Category:Michael Joseph books]]
[[Category:Novels by Richard Llewellyn]]