The Bonds of Earth

by E.V. Thompson

In 1837 when rich deposits of copper ore are discovered, a huge influx of out-of-work miners flock to the area from Cornwall's far west, bringing with them problems alien to the hard-working but easy-going countrymen. Young Goran Trebartha, whose working life is divided between two farms, finds himself caught between the seemingly incompatible cultures, his problems added to when life is further complicated by the arrival of a mine captain and all his female family. Avarice and intrigue, the vicissitudes of farming life and the sheer desperation of hungry miners all add to bewildering changes that will irrevocably alter the course of Goran's life.

Genres: Historical Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2012

About the author

Ernest Victor Thompson was born in London and spent nine years in the Navy before joining Bristol police. He moved to Hong Kong, then Rhodesia and had over 200 stories published before returning to England in 1970 to become a full-time award-winning writer.

He settled in Cornwall, living at Idle Cottage in Sharptor.

He wrote 42 historical novels, mostly set in Cornwall, beginning with 'Chase the Wind' in 1977, a book that was voted the best historical novel of the year, with detectives Churchyard and Hawke two of his main characters.

He was awarded the MBE in the 2012 New Years' Honours list for services to literature and the community in Cornwall. He was also a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd (Gorsedh Kernow). This is an individual honoured for significant contributions to the Cornish language, culture, or heritage.

He also wrote the Scottish historical epic 'Homeland' in 1991 under the pseudonym James Munro.

He died peacefully, with his wife, Celia, and two sons, Nathan and Luke, by his side, at his home in Launceston, Cornwall, on 19 July 2021, shortly after his 81st birthday.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all his books, a great read! I think I've read them all now; what joy his writings brought to many of us

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found it difficult to engage with this book. All the plot details were provided in emotionless discourse between characters I found it difficult to imagine having such open conversations.

Potential trigger: dog death

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love E.V. Thompson's books. Most of them are set in Cornwall in the mid nineteenth century. Very simple stories and easy to read. This was set in a new mining community in Cornwall's west and tells the story of young Goran Trebartha, a farmer, and the affect that the influx of miners has on the small farming community in the area. A good read, but I thought the ending was too abrupt.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the book but the abrupt ending ruined it for me.

[Manning · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I found this enjoyable I also found the plot to be too simple. Nevertheless, the historic references to the past and how people adjusted to changes in their ways of life was appealing. Goran Trebartha, Cornwall, mining, farming.