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A coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more.

Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture for the first time, it ignites a spark. Raised in a northern coal-mining town marked by grief and hardship, he begins to dream of more than soot and survival. He dreams of light.

Through war, reinvention, and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the memories that never let go.

Set against the backdrop of twentieth-century Britain, Poole of Light is a richly layered historical debut about ambition, identity, and the stories that shape us.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth

• Coming-of-age novels set in 20th-century England

• Themes of legacy, reinvention, and quiet redemption

• Authors like Jo Baker, Kristin Hannah, Amor Towles and Anthony Doerr

Book One in The Poole Legacy — a literary historical trilogy exploring ambition, identity, and legacy across generations.

Also available as an eBook: Bright Light, a companion short story set during the events of this novel.