Not my type. Too artsy for me. ( )

It probably wasn't fair to give this book 1 star, but I mostly hated it. I was attracted to it because of O'Brian's Master and Commander series. The writing was okay and I now know something about Wales in the early 20th century. But this book is so dreary. I seldom read a book that is technically superior but without any other redeeming value. PS I really enjoyed The Golden Ocean, another of O'Brian's earlier novels. ( )

This is an early and little known O'Brian novel (having never been printed in paperback before this edition). One might think O'Brian's signature is adventure stories, or perhaps sea stories - in which case this would appear a-typical, being set in a remote valley in North Wales. Looked at a different way, this book is entirely in keeping with the more famous works of its author; it relies on deep character study and interaction to tell a powerful story.

THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY

See the complete review here:

http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/335032/post ( )

bookshelves: autumn-2013, britain-wales, debut, hardback, one-penny-wonder, paper-read, published-1952
Recommended to ☯Bettie☯ by: spotted on Robert's update
Read from October 30 to November 04, 2013

The debut novel. First published in 1952 under the title Three Bear Witness

Dedication:

For Mary, with love

'

Opening:

Pugh

"Mr Pugh, I came to ask some questions about your life in Cwm Bugail and about Mrs Vaughan of Gelli, Bronwen Vaughan. But now I think it would be better if you were to let me have a written account."

O'Brian is a master wordsmith, and so thorough in his descriptions; take that sheep-shearing sequence, I was in there with the back-breaking exertions, branding and wound cleaning.

He is also a master storyteller; this dark tale set within a tiny insular community evoked a palpable, brooding atmosphere. ( )

A landlocked departure for the author of the Aubrey/Maturin novels (which I've not read, although The Nutmeg of Consolation is among my favorite book titles!). ( )