Description

Based on a true story. A gripping, emotional family saga, set in Birmingham, England's industrial Revolution.

"The descriptiveness is made for visual immersion. It feels wholly sensory, the sounds and smells are just as important as the conversations."

"A moving and inspiring tale."

"Compelling reading."

"Beautifully written. A historical fiction that vividly transports you."

"Highly recommended for fans of Ken Follett's historical family epics, retold here with warmth and humanity."

Book Description

A Legacy Forged is a sweeping, multi-generational saga of resilience and the enduring power of family. The reader is transported to Birmingham, via the canals and early railways, gathering nuggets of British history along the way. Perfect for fans of Ken Follett, Catherine Cookson, and Kristin Hannah, Sara Fox's debut novel is a powerful and moving tribute to the working-class heroes who built a nation from the ground up.

Shropshire, 1822. Fleeing the violent rage of his drunken father, ten-year-old Matthew Seller follows the cold, silver light of the "Hunger Moon," with nothing but his ambition and a burning hunger for change. He must navigate a world of poverty in "back-to-back" houses, where families live top-to-tail and every shared courtyard is a hive of industry and struggle.

Set in a time of seismic historical events, the readers witness the impact on the people of the Crimean War, women's suffrage, and the Irish fight for independence. Through it all, Matthew is guided by the kindness of 'found family' and a passion for engineering. From a humble apprentice to a master toolmaker, he strives to replace his father's legacy of rage with one of honesty and integrity. But as Birmingham roars towards becoming the Workshop of the World, Matthew discovers that forging a dynasty requires more than just hard work - it requires a strength of character that will be tested by loss, ethical challenges, and a terrible threat by those who seek to take what he has created.