SCAB_cover 1000px.png
SCAB_cover 1000px.png

SCAB | Wyn Price

£15.00

SCAB, a family divided by Garw resident, Wyn Price, is a poignant wide-ranging novel of a south Wales valley’s most difficult coalmining years.

John Powell is a miner and a war hero. He was decorated for his bravery during the attack on Mametz Wood, where many of his countrymen perished. He returned from the war physically unscathed, but he sill carries the mental wounds from those days. The fact John returned as a hero came as a shock to no-one in the Cwmcierw Valley, where he was already a much admired and respected man.

But John Powell hides many secrets. There are murkier sides to his nature which are hidden beneath the surface.

As the mines enter a divisive strike with the colliery owners in May 1926, John’s character becomes severely tested and his secrets come under increased pressure of being exposed, as the prolonged strike takes its toll on his family.

SCAB, a family divided by Garw resident, Wyn Price, is a poignant wide-ranging novel of a south Wales valley’s most difficult coalmining years.

John Powell is a miner and a war hero. He was decorated for his bravery during the attack on Mametz Wood, where many of his countrymen perished. He returned from the war physically unscathed, but he sill carries the mental wounds from those days. The fact John returned as a hero came as a shock to no-one in the Cwmcierw Valley, where he was already a much admired and respected man.

But John Powell hides many secrets. There are murkier sides to his nature which are hidden beneath the surface.

As the mines enter a divisive strike with the colliery owners in May 1926, John’s character becomes severely tested and his secrets come under increased pressure of being exposed, as the prolonged strike takes its toll on his family.

514 pages

Published 2023

Softcover

13.5 x 21.5 cm
ISBN 978-1-7392542-0-9
 
“‘Scab’ is a powerful and moving depiction of the struggles faced by a Welsh mining community in 1926. The characters are deeply sympathetic and convincing. The machinations and complexities of the political and historical context are explored with real insight and authority and still resonate today. I highly recommend it.”
— Norman Williams, Cheltenham
 
“Dr Wyn Price in his book captures and documents well the social history of mining. The story brings to life what it was like for miners, families and communities, who went on strike and those who did not. Wyns in-depth knowledge of the South Wales mining history comes to life on each page. A great read and I strongly recommend it.”
— Stephen Chapman, Newport
 
“This book had me hooked from the Preface to the exploration of the issues from which John Powell ‘suffers’, which is a fascinating one. It also accurately describes the tensions experienced both by individuals and the entire community during the 1926 miners strike. The characters are entirely believable, as are their struggles, and at times, I found it quite an emotional read. This book may be a work of fiction, but as someone who has lived in the Valleys all my life, I could really identify with many of the issues, having witnessed similar issues during the miners strike from 1984 to 1985. It’s a well written account of coal mining, community spirit and human nature. This is a gem of a book and I would recommend that you read it.”
— Gary Whitbread, Tonypandy