The duology about Robert Shannon, written by the famous English writer A. J. Cronin, is in many ways autobiographical. It honestly, truthfully, psychologically candidly, and artistically vividly depicts the story of the formation of a young man whose life path began in the gray, bleak environment of a small provincial town, Livenford. The first part of the duology tells about Robert’s early years—his boyish joys and sorrows, his first enthusiasms, dreams, and everyday misfortunes.