Hopes rise, only to be dashed again. Sir Philip and Anthony Stew return from Porthcawl and there a hints of things to come but no resolutions readily to hand.

In this chapter, Blackmore reminds us that fortune rarely favours his characters for long. Promises prove empty, expectations crumble, and the sting of disappointment leaves its mark. Yet within the frustration, we glimpse the persistence of those determined to keep going despite setbacks.

This chapter’s theme of disappointment mirrors the ebb and flow of coastal life in South Wales — where storms could undo a day’s labour and fortunes turned quickly. It’s a reminder of the resilience of communities who, like Blackmore’s characters, endured setbacks yet carried on.

More Dickens than a Ruth Jones’ page-turner or the historical drama’s of Netflix, the slow-moving narrative  ...