Synopsis
Wentworth is in Yorkshire and was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family.
It is England's forgotten palace which belonged to Britain's richest aristocrats. Black Diamonds tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part. But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart.
This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century.
Reviews
Customer Review: 18 September 2009
Reviewer: Steve Bradley
'I have not read and enjoyed a book as good as this for many years – Catherine has produced such a well researched and eloquently crafted story, that I found it difficult to put down once I had started reading.. having been brought up in the area, it was a pleasure to not only learn of the history of the family, and the magnificent house, but also additionally, to have fresh perspective and colour given to my memories of the stories and anecdotes that were told to me by my mother, whose parents used to own the pub next to the church in Elsecar in the 20’s & 30’s, where she and her brother and sisters were raised, and my own familiarity with the areas mentioned that I too visited as a kid.
Bought for me as a present by my daughter, I have since recommended this book to everyone in the family, but I would also recommend it to anyone seeking a good book with a sense of history, that is so evocatively brought to life.
'
Customer Review: 30 August 2009
Reviewer: Maureen Mathie
'One of the best books I have read in many a long year.
I could not put it down and would highly recommend
it !
'
Customer Review: 11 June 2009
Reviewer: Julie Young
'I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to friends and family. Well done to the author Catherine Bailey. This is her first book. I do hope there''ll be more in the near future.'
Customer Review: 10 June 2009
Reviewer: Karen Linley
'I grew up in Hoyland and my father went to work in a Fitzwilliam mine on leaving school. This book gave me a real insight into my ancestors'' lives and left me feeling so sad that Wentworth estate has been forgotten and neglected. '
Customer Review: 13 April 2009
Reviewer: Elaine
'I loved this book and would implore anyone who hasn''t done so to read it.
It filled everyone in our book group with iterest and excitement, it really manages to capture the imagination. Many of us have consequently been to visit Wentworth, the church and the surrounding village. I only wish,like so many others we could have a peak inside such a fascinating place as Wentworth Woodhouse.'
Customer Review: 10 March 2009
Reviewer: D Thompson
'I was wondering if the other readers might help me understand something:
Chapter 6
"En route to their new home in America, he had arranged for the birth of their third child [tow girls previously] to take place in Point de Meuron, a dangerous and isolated spot in the heart of Indian Territories, north-west of Fort William in Canada. The child was Billy"
[Why Point de Meuron?] "Could it have been that because the small Indian settlement offered Milton the seclusion to execute his plan to swap his wife''s newborn for Billy, if the baby was a girl?"
Forgive me if I’m missing something here, but if the newborn in Point de Meuron WAS Billy, how could the child potentially have been swapped for Billy?
'
Customer Review: 07 January 2009
Reviewer: Gordon-Ripon
'I was recommended to read this book by a friend,knowing that I had connections to that area.Once I picked it up,I found it difficult to put down.A fascinating read,very well researched and written.My great grandmother was in service at Wentwoth,My great grandfather was a coal miner at Wentworth.My wife''s grandma was in service at Wentworth,and we were staggered to see her in the photograph of the group of housemaids.I would be delighted to enlarge on this information to Catherine Bailey if she so desires.'
Customer Review: 06 August 2008
Reviewer: bettyf
'Part way through book but this story needs to be made into a film. I come from mining stock.
I live five miles away from Wentworth Woodhouse and never knew the story behind it. Perfect epic material.
'
Customer Review: 11 April 2008
Reviewer: Monica, Milton Keynes
This book caught my eye as I grew up not very far away from Wentworth in the south Yorkshire coalfields and used to go on a Boxing Day walk with my family every year through the park past the house.
Quite simply, I couldn't put the book down - it is written like a thriller and yet talks about real people. I had to keep reading at the end of each chapter to find out what happened next. My 82-year-old mother has also read the book and we couldn't stop talking about it to each other. Of course our enthusiasm is heightened by the fact that we know the places Ms. Bailey writes about - my mother was born and brought up in the area and can tell stories of walking 4 or 5 miles to the park there as a child. In fact, I was back for a visit just this week and we went to Wentworth and to Hoober Stand, something I hadn't done in a very long time.
Well done, Catherine Bailey! An excellent, excellent read.
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Product details
Format : Paperback
ISBN: 9780141019239
Size : 129 x 198mm
Pages : 544
Published : 06 Mar 2008
Publisher : Penguin
Other formats for Black Diamonds:
» ePub eBook: eBook : £10.00
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