Poole of Light: Book One of The Poole Legacy

"A cinematic treat of a novel"

"Reads like a feature film"

Spennymoor, 1913. A boy from a coal-mining town sees a moving picture for the first time – and glimpses a life beyond his reach.

Jem Poole grows up in hardship, shaped by loss and class division. But from that first flicker of light, he is determined to build something more.

As war and social upheaval reshape Britain, Jem finds his way into the emerging world of cinema – and success opens doors once closed to him.

But ambition comes at a cost.

The higher he climbs, the more he risks losing. And the past is not done with him yet.

Perfect for readers who enjoy

• Character-led historical fiction with strong emotional stakes

• Stories of reinvention and buried pasts

• Early twentieth-century Britain and the rise of cinema

Readers of Amor Towles, Anthony Doerr and Kate Atkinson will find the same emotional depth, rich historical detail, and a story that keeps the pages turning.

Book One of The Poole Legacy

Follow three generations of one family across a century of change. Each novel stands alone, while building a larger story of choices and their consequences.

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

Readers love Poole of Light

"A cinematic treat of a novel – I can see and hear the flash and crackle of it on every page." — Ross Raisin, author

"A real page-turner – impressively well-researched and full of authentic detail." — Giles Woodforde, Cinema Theatre Association

"An epic and moving novel – reads like a feature film." — Tom Gaisford, author

“Spectacular – I couldn’t put it down.” Reader review

“Epic, moving, beautifully observed.” Reader review

“Atmospheric, authentic and entertaining.” Reader review

Praise for RJ Verity

“Verity has an amazing talent for bringing characters vividly to life.” — Jenny O’Brien, bestselling author

“Rich, vivid and unforgettable – a compelling new voice in historical fiction.”

“An exquisite debut that captures the transformative power of storytelling."