[Gutenberg 48813] • The Black Diamond

First published in 1921, this absorbing tale has all the ingredients of a 21st century best seller: infidelity, sex, drunkenness, violent death, football corruption, urban and rural poverty, explicit coverage of human frailties and desires. Abner Fellows, a miner and semi-professional footballer, is found a surface job to ensure that industrial injury does not impede his football. Abner's stepmother is only a little older than himself and when his hard-drinking miner father is hospitalised he becomes the breadwinner. Just as his father returns home Abner is sacked for refusing to 'throw' a cup match for his boss. Fellows senior unjustly accuses his son of impropriety with his stepmother, a fight ensues and Abner leaves home. He tramps west and after several skirmishes finds lodgings with a casual acquaintance. Again he finds himself the breadwinner of a small family. His landlady keeps him at arm's length but just before the release of her husband from gaol, succumbs. After another fight Abner leaves and in Shrewsbury while intoxicated accepts an offered panacea.