From a Rock to a Hard Place: The 1984/85 Miners' Strike

by Beverley Trounce

By the end of the notorious 1984/85 miners' strike many wanted to forget their painful experiences. Many years on people are ready to look back and talk about what happened in Britain during this defining moment of industrial action.

In this new and updated edition, Beverley Trounce, who worked in a pit village and whose father was a miner, delivers a candid account of this heroic struggle through the voices of people directly affected by the strike. Her research and contributions from ex-striking miners and activists cover the pickets, the collieries, the matter of simple survival through the extreme and grinding poverty of the time, the effects on the women and children involved and the wider community, as well as the aftermath and what its legacy means to people today.

From a Rock to a Hard Place is a powerful and moving record of a divisive moment in history.

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2024

Reviews

[Tom]

It is a decent read and I would recommend it for anyone that wants a snapshot of the 84/85 Miners Strike. The most intriguing parts are the first hand accounts scattered inside each chapter that give you a real sense of what it was like to picket. However, it isn't nearly long enough to provide the depth needed and only really serves as a glimpse at what happened.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, well written and easy to read! I read this book for my EPQ on Thatcher and it has been extremely useful, I even enjoyed looking at the pictures included throughout. If you are interested in the topic then this book is incredible- could not recommend more.

[Jane Mulh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great social comment with lots of quotes from those on the right side of history.

[Andy Midwinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into an important event in this countries history. Packed full of photos of personal accounts from the picket line. Highly recommended