This novel is set in the Flintshire coalfield of North Wales around the time of the Mold riots of 1869. We follow the story of a young man and a pony, both born on Mynydd Hiraethog, both destined to work in the mines.
The story starts in a snowstorm on Mynydd Hiraethog, a huge area of upland between the Conwy and Clwyd river valleys. This mountain is home to both wild ponies and a boy who lives in a community of smallholders. A remarkable connection is forged between the boy and one of the wild ponies.
This is a time when the coal mines in Flintshire are expanding rapidly. By the time the boy is a young man, he and the pony find themselves underground ...
Review:
‘We follow the story of Ifan, who has to look for work as the small homestead where he lives is not big enough to keep him. He feels that the wages of a farm servant are low, and so he joins the Irish who work in the area as they take a group of mountain ponies to the coal mines in Mold. He has some unexpected connection with one of those ponies, and we see the relationship deepen as Ifan gets work in the pits.
We will learn a lot from this historical novel - about the poverty of the Welsh countryside, and about the frightening reality and injustices of the dark life of the coal mines. We will also learn about the geography of the area, and an explanation of the meaning of Mynydd Hiraethog, together with the beautiful names of the mountains. In addition, we will learn a lot about the cleverness of the methods of handling wild ponies in the mountains, and the habits of young people when having a bit of fun with them.’
— Awen Schiavone
- ISBN: 9781845279592
- Myrddin ap Dafydd
- Adapted/Translated by Susan Walton
- Publication: February 2025
- Format: Paperback, 198x128 mm, 230 pages
Review by Awen Schiavone
Bracken and Bryn by Myrddin ap Dafydd is a particularly artful historical fiction. The story is set in the late nineteenth century and spans a period of about five years. At the cornerstone of the story is a young boy and a pony, and their transformative lives as both mature and expand their horizons. The book is divided into two parts - narratively and geographically, with both parts being contrasting in many ways. The novel opens in the rural area of Gwytherin, Mynydd Hiraethog, before moving on to the coal mining area of Mold. There is a clear contrast between the mountain scenery, freedom, and fresh air of the highlands, and the underground, confined, and unhealthy darkness of the coal mines.
At the beginning of the volume, there is a list of some of the characters of the novel. Some may worry that this is a sign of a complex story with too many characters, but this is not the case - the list can be useful but is not necessary. There is also a map of the Hiraethog area, and before the second part, there is a map of the Mold coal mining area, which is again useful and interesting in following the story and the characters' journeys.
The volume opens with a prologue featuring a striking scene - it describes Tomos losing his way in a snowstorm. The short sentences and sensory descriptions skilfully set the mood, grabbing the reader's attention immediately – making you read on eagerly to know Tomos's fate. We move on about six months by the first chapter, and we get to know Berwyn, the grandfather, and Ifan, his fourteen-year-old grandson, in a chapter that opens the door to the living conditions and customs of rural Wales of the period. We are also introduced to more of the family - Siân, the mother, and Eirwen, the seventeen-year-old daughter, giving a glimpse of the woman’s situation in mid-nineteenth-century society.
We follow Ifan's story, who must look for work as the small farm he lives on is not big enough to sustain him. He feels that the pay for a farm labourer is low, and so he joins the Irishmen working in the area as they take a group of mountain ponies to the Mold coal mines. He has some unexpected connection with one of those ponies, and we see the relationship deepen as Ifan finds work in the mines. We learn a lot from this historical novel - about the poverty of rural Wales, the frightening reality, and injustices of the dark life of the coal mines. We also learn about the geography of the area and an explanation of the meaning of Mynydd Hiraethog, along with the beautiful names of the mountains. Additionally, we learn a lot about the cleverness of the methods of handling wild mountain ponies and the customs of young people having a bit of fun with them.
Throughout, there are very special descriptions, revealing a lot without saying it bluntly, especially with comments about characters that say a lot about the personalities of the various individuals. It is necessary to mention the use of wonderful nicknames here too - from Dei Crys Glân to Harri Mochyn, and from Jona Ded Loss to Traed Chwadan - they are humorous and reflect the true organic Welsh nicknames. To support the honest storytelling talent, the volume is full of examples of local dialects, giving a close-to-home feel to the style, drawing the reader into the world of the history. The language is very rich throughout, but that does not mean it is difficult to understand - it flows beautifully; and although it is aimed at young people, anyone interested in history is sure to enjoy reading it.
