Outside the House of Baal1963. Over the course of a single morning, J.T. Miles looks back over seventy years of his lifetime. His country has changed from a rural, religious, Welsh-speaking society where heaven is achieved through living a "good life," to a place like so many others, where technology is making "heaven on earth" possible. A preacher, J.T. has tried to live a good life. He opposed the Great War and spoke out against much wrongdoing, as his Christian duty, when perhaps he should have shown more understanding. His confusion and sense of failure is compounded by the presence of his sister-in-law Kate, who shares his house and who at one time he might have married. Instead he had chosen Lydia, free-spirited and strong-willed. In this classic novel, Emyr Humphreys explores the splendours and miseries of the Welsh experience. |
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Anglesey Argoed Aunty Bannister began better boots Breiz Atao Caernarfonshire Calvinistic Methodist Camel Lairds chair chapel closed corner Dan Llew deacon doorway Emyr Humphreys Engedi eyes face father feet finger forward Frank Morgan front door frowned gate girl Griff Gwyneth hair hand hear heard held Hobley hurried Ifan inside J.T. looked James Foster Jones Kate Kate's kitchen knees laughed leaned legs Leyshon lifted lips listening Llew Lydia Lydia looked Miles minister Miss Dowell Miss Pickering Moch mole-catcher mouth moved never Nonconformist Norman picked pocket pulled pushed Ronnie seemed shook his head shoulder side Silin sitting smiled South Wales speak spoke stairs stared stood stopped stretched suddenly talk tell Thea There's thing Tomi took turned to look Uncle Vernon voice waiting Wales walked wall watch Welsh window yard