How Green Was My Valley?

This is the title of a famous Richard Llewellyn novel that was published in 1939. It was also made into a major motion picture of the same name. It won the Oscar in 1949 beating the likes of Citizen Kane.

'How Green Was My Valley' is set in a Welsh mining community in the 1890s. The book as well as the movie does a remarkable job with transporting the audience to the 1890s. Llewellyn's biggest victory lies in coming with great insights into the human psyche while the protagonists are performing seemingly mundane tasks. Huw Morgan is the unforgettable character that makes you forget that you belong to the present. The novel centers on a test of faith and a questioning of everybody's values. It also takes an unconventional look at love blossoming in circumstances that would not be called easy by any standards. The movie does take a few cinematic liberties but that was to be expected to so that it would appeal to the masses.