This book was written in 1978 and was a bestseller at the time. I am not sure how I acquired this book, but clearly the title was the appeal. The story was based on the author's grandparents' experiences. An interesting insight into how hard the miners' lives were in Scotland in the late 19th century. The book ends with his grandparents' family emigrating to the US, but does not cover anything that happens once they arrived here. Another old-style, yellowed paperback that was recycled except for the cover. I framed the cover since it included the Cameron tartan.

After reading The Secret of Santa Vittoria I wanted more by RC. Page turning historical fiction.

I read this when I was in high school and really liked it. I'm not sure I would rate it as highly now. I can't remember if it was a good period fiction novel, or bordering on pulp fiction, and not sure whether I'd have known the difference at that age. I like to think it was the former.

Scottish coal mining family becomes involved in unionization. Strong characters in Maggie and Gillon Cameron.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Crichton is such a great storyteller and his characters are well developed.

Simply put, probably the best book I have ever read. I'm pretty sure about my own rating, I read it three times and am considering a fourth and as you might guess, my paperback copy is getting a bit tattered. For those of us who despise unions or associations or any other worker group who band together, this book might change your mind, or at least you'll be somewhat educated as to the reasons for unions. I have read somewhere (maybe on a web search) that Crichton was planning to write a sequel with the Camerons who were on their way to North America when this novel ended. Unfortunately, Crichton died at 68 years of age in 1993 at the age of 68. Considering The Camerons was published in 1972, I wonder why he never finished that up. I guess we'll never know.

A Lowland Scottish coal miner's daughter comes of age and goes north to get herself a Highlander. She does. Thirty years later I still vividly remember the story and the characters. That's gotta count for something.

Liked it very much and found it hard to put down. Crichton is a wonderful storyteller.

I was excited to read this thrift store find. Scotland. coal mines. turn of the century goodness. my cup of tea. but alas it didn't live up to my expectations. it was ok. maybe even good. but that's despite the fact that I don't think I really liked one character in the book. the plot is good. certainly the setting is good. the writing is splendid, but weighed against my total lack of enthusiasm for the H/h, I'd say overall the book was just ok.

Probably 3.5 stars.
It took me a while to get into the book. Still unclear when the book took place late 1800’s, I think.
What a bleak world, no one holds hands, or kisses or hugs. They are living on the edge of starvation.
Maggie is a very determined, single-minded person. She wanted out of poverty but really only knew one way to do it, sacrifice everything and everyone. Her children seemed like a means to an end.
Gallon mostly seemed bewildered.

Aquí, gente con la que me sería imposible identificarme: gente con güevos.
Es como si los de Downton Abbey hubiesen nacido pobres, igual de fascinante.

First of all, it's more than interesting that an American writer (Robert Crichton was born in New Mexico and grew up in New York), has chosen such a subject for this novel: the story of a Scottish girl, in a poor mining town in Scotland. One of the explanations is that Robert's father was a miner to, the other is that his great-grandparents were from a Scottish coal mining family.
So he knows a thing or two about life in such places, as he tells us the story of Maggie Drum, a sixteen y. o. girl who wants to work hard in order to escape from poverty. Nice written, but sad enough in order to be not my cup of tea...