Product Description

In October 2007, the Cartwright family took part in BBC Wales' landmark living history series "Coalhouse", which saw 3 families transported back in time to the south Wales coalfields of the 1920s. "Coal House Diary" is the diary of 12-year-old Gwen Cartwright, whose family left behind all modern-day luxuries, swapping their high-tech lifestyle for a basic miner's cottage. Gwen's school day and social life were a world away from what she was used to and she records what it was like to live as a child in a 1920s working family - the hardships that they faced and the surprising simple pleasures that are overlooked in our modern-day lives. The book will contain photos from the BBC archive as well as pictures from the Cartwright's personal collection, making this more than just a diary, but a journey into history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102253 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

About the Author
Gwen Cartwright lives with her mum, dad and younger sister in Penarth. She enjoys reading and writing, has a great sense of humour and is very excited about seeing her first book in print.

Customer Reviews

A perfect present!
Having enjoyed the BBC `Coal House' TV series last year, I was really excited when I learned that Gwen Cartwright, one of the children taking part in the programme, had kept a diary and was actually going to have it published. I don't know what I expected, but nothing could have prepared me for this book: the photographs are stunning and Gwen's writing is so entertaining (her voice is `young' but there are moments of reflection which certainly made this adult pause for thought). I would recommend this title for all age groups: children will enjoy it but, for different reasons, so will their mums, dads and grandparents!

A delight for all ages
Gwen's book captures the magic of the series with beautiful photography illustrating a genuinely atmospheric text. She really manages to present the experience of a child of the twenties seen through contemporary eyes, and with a deft humour that keeps you turning the pages.
There is something for all ages here, with just enough supporting editorial to set the historical context. Well done Gwen! Diary keeping can't have been easy, in the cold, by lamplight!

Beautiful read
If your interested in how people worked and lived in the past with a modern twist then this book is a must have, A selction of diaries that when accompanied by the coal house DVD series makes more sense, but it is a delightful read. Four families living in a differnt era, taken out of the city and modern life to live for a week in the 1920's. You get taken into their lives when reading this collection of diaries. You feel their joys and sorrows as they discover that living in this time, that to the younger generation would seem like the darkages, affects them and how they cope or don't. The book has some laughs and some tears along with shock and amazement from the people living history and you can follow their entire journey from start to finish.