A
coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more.
Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture
for the first time, it ignites a spark. Raised in a northern coal-mining town
marked by grief and hardship, he begins to dream of more than soot and
survival. He dreams of light.
Through war, reinvention, and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to
national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a
generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories
resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the
memories that never let go.
Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century Britain, Poole of Light is
a richly layered historical debut about ambition, identity, and the stories
that shape us.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
·
Character-driven historical fiction with emotional
depth
·
Coming-of-age novels set in 20th-century England
·
Themes of legacy, reinvention, and quiet redemption
·
Authors like Jo Baker, Kristin Hannah, Amor Towles
and Anthony Doerr
Book One
in The Poole Legacy — a literary historical trilogy exploring
ambition, identity, and legacy across generations.
Also available as an eBook: Bright Light, a companion short story
set during the events of this novel.
Review
This blazing, cinematic historical fiction follows Jem Poole as he transitions from coal miner's son to filmmaker.
RJ verity has a gift for making characters come to life in historical settings. She makes her settings shine and connects them beautifully to the decisions made by her characters. I knew nothing about the cinema scene in Leeds in the 1930s but her words created a setting that helped me feel familiar with the unknown.
This is the first book in a trilogy, so expect some backstory and lengthier introduction phase than a standalone novel. I didn't find it cumbersome, but it did seem that the story didn't really take off until midway through the novel. Jem is an emotionally complex character, so expect to love and hate him in degrees as you follow his story.
Overall, another strong entry by RJ Verity. Her fans will be thrilled, and if you aren't a fan already - what are you waiting for?
Purchase Link
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poole-Light-Book-One-Legacy-ebook/dp/B0FJ6BDBSH
https://www.amazon.com/Poole-Light-Book-One-Legacy-ebook/dp/B0FJ6BDBSH
Author Bio –
RJ Verity grew up
in Yorkshire and studied at King’s College London before spending more than
twenty years in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with
her endlessly patient husband and their spirited ten-year-old Labradinger. When
she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island’s
rugged coastline.
She is currently
working on The Poole Legacy, her debut trilogy of historical novels. The first
book in the series, Poole of Light, is out now.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRJVerity
https://www.instagram.com/rjverity/
https://bsky.app/profile/rjverity.bsky.social
https://www.pinterest.com/RJVerityAuthor/
Here's my Goodreads link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239076062-poole-of-light
A universal link to my Amazon
page:https://mybook.to/poole-of-light
The map: https://www.rjverity.com/1930s-leeds
The book club kit: https://www.rjverity.com/bookclub
And the blog link:https://www.rjverity.com/blog
No comments:
Post a Comment