See the Tourism page for details of Blaenavon Booktown.

If you have any interest in 19th century Blaenafon life or just like an absorbing read, you'll enjoy Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell. It's a stirring account of life for a miner's family with the action in Blaenafon, Garnddyrys (north of Blaenavon) and Nantyglo (over the Coity mountain). Newport, Abergavenny and the canal at Llanfoist also feature. Once you get used to the 'look you, isn't it' vernacular style it fairly cracks along, weaving a tale of love and politics with sex and violence never far away - not bad for an accurately researched historical novel!

Once you've devoured that, you'll doubtless continue with This Proud and Savage Land a later written prequel with better developed characters and Beloved Exile the third novel set in Blaenafon. Cordell's other rated novels, The Hosts of Rebecca and Song of the Earth also have Welsh political themes during the Industrial Revolution, covering the Rebecca riots and the Chartist uprising.

Cordell himself (real name George Alexander Graber) was a bit of an enigma and his death so bizarre that it could easily become the subject of a film itself. He was found dead in the Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, in a kneeling position and equipped for suicide with whisky, pills, a final note and photos of his two wives surrounding him. But post mortem tests were not conclusive, showing no significant trace of drink or drugs and the circumstances of his death still remains a mystery.

The other classic Welsh Valleys novel is of course How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, made into an acclaimed movie by John Ford in 1941 and well deserving its cult status. This is a highly recommended read.

Novels aside, there are many worthwhile books on Blaenafon although they are not always easy to find. Chris Barber is a Govilon author and publisher who writes on local history, legend and hill walking. He has extensive knowledge of the Blaenavon area and his book Exploring Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site although poorly edited is packed with information It also contains some good photographs and illustrations. If you are interested in learning more about Blaenafon history, this is a good place to continue.

Judging by the number of collections available, no-one ever throws out old photos in Wales! The excellent Blaenavon in Old Picture Postcards by Roger Bowen is well worth a look, and if Blaenavon Through the Years in Photographs Vol I Vol IIVol III by Malcolm Thomas and John Lewis were edited into one volume losing some of the many group photos, it would be even more worthwhile.

An unusual little publication by the London poet Daphne Rock Circular Walk Through the Heritage Landscape of Blaenafon inspired by the creditable council pamphlet of the same name, gives a fresh urban comment on the apparent contradictions that abound in the present-day South Wales valleys, but is now difficult to locare.

Another two worthy of mention: Big Pit, Blaenafon by the authorative William Gerwyn Thomas is cheap and full of facts with good photographs, and despite the dry title The Evolution of Slopes on Artificial Landforms, Blaenavon, UK by Martin J Haigh is an interesting look at the land reclamation around Blaenafon.

Finally, if you can find a copy, one of the best local history books has always been 'The Blaenavon Story' by E J Davies, a work with special character by a local man who obviously knew his subject well. This and some of the other books mentioned above are often seen in the second-hand bookshops in the town, although they will not be cheap to buy.