An intriguing exploration of personal loyalty, focusing on a mixed group of characters. The novel opens in a Welsh Welsh mining community in 1936, with a group of visiting committed socialists from Cambridge giving lectures to local miners and union members about the situation in Spain (drifting gradually but irresistibly towards civil war). Among the students are Georgi Wilkes and Norman Braose, together with Norman's sister Emma. On this particular day the miners are joined by Nesta Pritchard, with whon Norma immediately falls in love.

As the novel moves forward we follow different characters heading off to fight for the International Brigade in Spain, and then against the Nazis during World War II. Peace brings different challenges with the nationalisation of the coal industry. Meanwhile Georgi, Norman and Emma rise within the Labour P.arty and start to achieve positions of relative power. However, individual agendas start to draw them apart, and personal ambition has to compete with ties of love and affection.

The story is cleverly crafted though perhaps unnecessarily long. Williams' own political beliefs emerge quite clearly, and one is certainly left wondering to what extent his own life was blighted by personal treachery.

All in all this seemed a sound novel though it is also a pale challenger to James Robertson's "And The Land Lay Still" when it comes to portraying a national political odyssey though the annals of family life. ( )