A macho struggle for supremacy over a barbecue; a young boy's daydream carved on a wall; a snatched moment of passion in a cramped tunnel deep underground; two obsessive genealogists united by a century-old tragedy; and one man's bizarre newspaper-buying habits. These unforgettable moments chronicle the lives of a diverse range of characters, played out against a backdrop of over 150 years of British industrial history. The author explores the effects--both protective and oppressive--of industrial communities on those who live at the heart of them. His lucid prose vividly depicts the humanity of the individual struggling to gain a footing in this world of mass-identity, and the devastating consequences of the industrial decay of the late Twentieth Century on those whose lives have been built around it.
This finely crafted short story collection introduces a fresh and youthful new voice in fiction.