Thanks to both Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for my gifted paperback to write my honest review.
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.
My Review
I always love historical fiction! I love it even more when it is set in the northern part of the UK. “Poole of Light” is a debut historical fiction novel that introduces us to Jem Poole. It’s 1913, and he lives with his dad after his mum passed away. They move to Leeds due to his dad wanting to marry the sister of his deceased wife.
Jem is obsessed with pictures and becomes determined to work in the industry. Due to being badly abused by his ‘stepmother, ‘ he runs away. Luckily, he is taken in by a man who owns a picture house. From humble beginnings, we follow his journey through the years. His ambition takes over his life, and he will throw anyone to the wolves to get his way.
The first book in a planned trilogy which is written so well! I was as obsessed with Jem as he was with the pictures! He is a character who is as flawed as the next man. This brought him to life in my head! He is driven to be the best , and along the way, he makes some wrong choices. He struggles with addiction too. All this made me addicted to the book! I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
I was so interested in the ins and outs of the industry too. The author must have researched until her eyes nearly fell out! It is such an authentic and emotional read as well. Even the way both wars affected people’s lives is dealt with.
I was quite gutted when I finished the book, to the point of having a reading slump. I was still thinking about this one long after I read the final page! I’m so glad there are two more!
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://x.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
Giveaway
Giveaway to Win a limited edition print of Poole of Light book (gold foil, high quality paper) (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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