Welcome to this website by Huw Beynon and Ray Hudson about their book – The Shadow of the Mine

Book Reviews

“A hymn to working-class community and to men and women’s souls” Will Hutton, author of The State We’re In

“Refreshing and necessary … [The Shadow of the Mine] explains in loving, careful detail why working people’s relationship with Labour in former industrial communities … had become complex and ultimately soured.” Laura Pidcock, Red Pepper

“Their brilliant analysis of the decline of British coal mining, and its social and political effects, is required reading for those who would speak for this working class. It is in many ways a study in the lost world of British labourism.” David Edgerton, The Times Literary Supplement

“The Shadow of the Mine reminds us why this spirit [of solidarity and collectivism] has lived on in the coalfields, in spite of people feeling a sense of political betrayal going back decades … enlightening”. Conrad Landin, The Guardian

“Their new book is essential reading for anyone who wants to dig deeper beyond vague generalizations about the “red wall” that have proliferated since December 2019…Beynon and Hudson encourage us to explore the long-term trends that have shaped the bewildering political situation we find ourselves in now” Charlotte Austin, Jacobin

“The Shadow of the Mine, is a moving account of 150 years of coalfield history, focusing on South Wales and Durham. It is not, however, a detached study of the past. By tracing the “deep story” of the marginalisation of Britain’s coalfields, it aims to understand the continuing exclusion of working-class people in deindustrialised areas from political and social life…if the current Labour leader wants to understand the challenges facing him, he would be far better reading The Shadow of the Mine than listening to PR companies telling him to wrap the party in a union jack.” Diarmaid Kelliher, Antipode Online

“Beynon and Hudson … write with authority and respect of the former mining communities of Britain.” John Lloyd, Financial Times

“Huw Beynon and Ray Hudson are premier coalfield social scientists, and their new book is essential reading for anyone who wants to dig deeper beyond vague generalisations about the “Red Wall”.’ Charlotte Austin, Tribune 

?It’s the precise, empathetic detailing of life after coal that makes this book so telling – the low-paid jobs, the boring shifts, the ritual humiliations doled out to ex-miners who were once considered to be doing work of physical heroism and national importance. In that shift lies a deep truth about the death of a kind of labourism and it is skilfully told here.” Aditya Chakrabortty, Guardian Senior Economics Commentator

“A brave book … anyone interested in the transformation that has reshaped Britain’s former coalfields should read it.” Ewan Gibbs, Jacobin

“This is the work of two outstanding ‘organic intellectuals’ of the very communities they are giving voice to…. It is a story which challenges … the many supposed truths canvassed by Conservative and Labour about class and politics in Britain”.  Alan Tuckman, Spokesman

“Shadow of the Mine is a story of communities being betrayed, not simply by having their livelihoods taken away, but their whole reason for being, nullified”. Martin Shipton, Western Mail

“This is a book that will make you angry. …. But it isn’t just an outburst of rage over the demise of a long-gone golden age. It also points the way to a better possible future”. Steve Davies,  New Socialist

“A concern for the dignity of those who made (and continue to make) their lives in the coalfields runs through the book like an unbroken seam”. Gavin Bridge

“A highly visceral approach to the business of cutting coal … excellent.” Robert Colls, New Statesman

“After defeat by Thatcher, the pits were levelled and the Miners’ Welfare Halls, their social and intellectual centres vanished. With carefully controlled passion, this book indites such ruthless disregard for the values of care and compassion”. Shelia Rowbotham, author of Daring to Hope

“Considered, comprehensive and insightful … a book that deserves the widest distribution”. Steven Andrew, Morning Star

“Elegiac … [The Shadow of the Mine] provides essential economic and social context for the Leave vote in 2016″. Rhian E. Jones, Tribune

“This is a story which needs to be told …a tragic narrative, [Beynon and Hudson] leave no stone unturned in telling the tale in stark, graphic and granular detail”. Terry Hyland, Aigne

“A major contribution …required reading for historians of twentieth century history”. Keith Gildart, Social History

“A powerful study of tumultuous political events steeped in knowledge of the coalfields. Essential reading for all those who care about the future – and hence the past – of working-class politics’” Hilary Wainwright author of A New Politics from the Left

“It is the best book I have read covering our area. The history of pit closures and the strikes are very well covered. Both authors deserve high praise for this book. An absolute must, boys”. Paul Neath Welsh Coal Mines

The Shadow of the Mine is available to buy through Shepherd.com.