Product Description

This is an autobiographical book about life in the Rhondda Valley. Bought up in the tightly-knit coal-mining community, the author reflects on the vivid personalities who shaped his character, and influenced his life from boyhood to manhood.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35337 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
"Intimate, amusing, compelling... the language is colourful and evocative and the pathos and humour blend perfectly..." "cawn olwg gwbwl wahanol ar y Cwm gyda'r cyfeillgarwch o fewn y gymuned yn cael y prif sylw." - Y Cymro "An intimate and evocative account of Valleys life by one of its proudest sons" "This...book gives an entirely different picture of the valley, concentrating on the strong community and the heroes supporting that community for so many years."www.walesunited.com/welshbooks "Portraying many wonderful characters along the way, here we have a slice of how life was." Dawson Wheller, South Wales Argus, 29/07/06

From the Inside Flap
Of Boys Men and Mountains is a a heart-warming autobiographical book about life in the Rhondda Valley. Bought up in the tightly-knit coal-mining community, the author reflects on the vivid personalities who shaped his character, and influenced his life from boyhood to manhood...

About the Author
Roy Tomkinson was born in the 1950s into a mining family in the Rhondda Valley. The pits were always in the foreground of existance and played a major part in his early life. The environment was harsh yet friendly and helped to form many of the beliefs and values he still holds today. Most of his time is now spent writing after being in business for many years. He is a keen ethusiast of Welsh culture and captures in the book much of what happened in his childhood in Cwmparc before the closures of the pits changed his life for ever...

Customer Reviews

A wonderful book!
I initially wanted to read this book as I am also from the Rhondda, and wanted to read a first hand account of what the Rhondda was like before I was born. After having read it however, I realised that the story, in many ways, is timeless and would appeal to people the world over. A bittersweet tale of boyhood. Full of trials, tribulations, tears, joy, love, mischief, adventure, and lessons learnt. So funny in parts, and so sad in others, this is one of those books that you don't want to put down. I hope the author will write a follow up story. Ten out of ten!

This book is living history -- a must read, brilliant!
The book hits all the right cords. It is funny, you cannot help laughing at the young people as they go about life growing up in the Rhondda Valley.

As well as being funny the book has a sad element and you feel the characters are real and come alive on the pages, they jump out at you which is not found in many books as they battle the hardship they were born to endure.

This book is a winner in my eyes and I would recommend everyone to read the story - part of which is true. This book is far bigger than the Valley wrote about. The book is a lesson about life, love, respect and how the close community pulled and stay together in times of hardship.

A funny yet exciting and gentle book
I found this to be a wonderful & inspirational book, gentle yet exciting and clearly written from the heart. It's appeal is universal and not just for people who have an interest in Welsh culture. It says much about human nature, it made me laugh and also cry. Any one who would like to be remined what it was like growing up as a child, with all the trials & tribulations, will love this book.