Review: The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers

The Gallows Pole is a fictional account of the Cragg Vale Coiners who back in the 18th century began minting their own coins in the hills of West Yorkshire. As a result they almost brought the Bank of England to its knees and it would have been easy to portray this band of counterfeiters as a breezy bunch living off their wits.

Myers takes the much braver option of bringing to life characters who are much more complex and as a result much less likable, not least the self-styled head of the gang David ‘King’ Hartley.

His world is dirty, violent and the drizzle which seems to permanently hangs over the Calderdale hills seeps through the pages.

Alternate chapters reveal the inner thoughts of Hartley and can be occassionally difficult to penetrate, but otherwise this is an accomplished novel by a writer with a keen ear for language and a keen eye for historical detail.

If the film rights haven’t yet been snapped up, I suspect they soon will. And when it does make it to the big screen, we can only hope Hollywood doesn’t airbrush out the Yorkshire grit.

Bluemoose Books, £9.99.