21 Oct Book Review When the Stones Held David E Owen #HistoricalFiction #WelshHistory #BookBlogTour #YardeBookPromotions @dai_owen @maryanneyarde

FEATURED AUTHOR: DAVID E. OWEN

I’m delighted to welcome David E. Owen as the featured author in the Yarde Book Promotions Blog Tour being held between October 19th – 23rd, 2026. Davide E. Owen is the author of the Historical Fiction, When the Stones Held, independently published by the author on 16th May 2026 (331 pages).

Below are highlights of When the Stones Held, David E. Owen’s author bio, and my review of his inspiring Welsh Historical Fiction about William Edwards, a Welsh stonemason who built one of the most durable bridges in the eighteenth century that transformed the social order and commerce in the region.  

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2026/08/blog-tour-when-stones-held-by-david-e.html

HIGHLIGHTS: WHEN THE STONES HELD

When the Stones Held
by David E. Owen

Blurb:

When the Stones Held is a historical novel inspired by the remarkable true story of William Edwards, the self-taught Welsh stonemason who built one of the great bridges of the eighteenth century.

Growing up in rural South Wales, William lives in a world of hard physical labour, dangerous rivers and limited opportunity. From an early age, he develops an instinctive understanding of stone, balance and the possibilities hidden within the landscape around him.

As the coal trade begins to transform the valleys and the need for safer routes grows, William accepts an extraordinary challenge: to build a bridge across the River Taff at Pontypridd. He is twenty-seven years old and has never built a bridge before.

What follows will test far more than his skill as a stonemason. Flood destroys his first bridge. Later attempts bring new failures and new problems to solve. With his reputation, livelihood and family affected by every decision he makes, William must decide how much he is prepared to risk for something no one can promise will succeed.

Set against a South Wales beginning to experience profound change, When the Stones Held is a story of ambition, family, community and resilience, and of an apparently ordinary man whose determination would leave a legacy that survives more than two and a half centuries later.

Any Triggers: Drowning, poverty

Praise:

‘When the Stones Held’ is a beautifully written novel that celebrates perseverance, faith, love, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that the greatest achievements are rarely built by one pair of hands alone, but through the courage, kindness, and support of those who stand beside us —Yarde Book Promotions

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4X7PX6

This book is available on #KindleUnlimited

AUTHOR BIO: DAVID E. OWEN

After decades spent teaching around the world—from the UK to the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East—I came to writing fiction later in life. I started with fantasy before finding my voice in fast-paced, real-world spy thrillers. My stories are grounded in current issues like corruption, gender bias, and power, but always emphasise pace, surprise, and character-driven tension.

I’ve visited over 80 countries, worked as a radio host in Abu Dhabi, directed Shakespeare for African audiences in the bush, and even survived a flash flood in Mali and an armed hold-up. I was arrested for drug-smuggling in Nigeria but was eventually released when I refused to pay off the police captain, and I was boat-wrecked alone on a desert island in the Arabian Sea (but no tree) and rescued through a police search. Now retired from teaching, I split my time between writing, photography, and trying to get fit (thanks to a stubborn rowing machine). My latest novel, Hate Machine, tackles misogyny and gender radicalisation — not typical thriller territory, but I like a challenge.

Social Media Links:

Website     Instagram    X     Facebook     Bluesky

BookBub     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN THE STONES HELD

When the Stones Held captures the legacy of William Edwards, a self-taught Welsh mason who rises from poverty to build a monumental stone bridge over the River Taff at Pontypridd in Eighteen Century. The book spans the period from his early childhood in 1725 to his death in 1789. At the age of six years, William must face the tragic downing of his father in a flood. He teaches himself on how to build stone fences to help support himself and his mother. Instinctively, he learns how to position stones and use the contour of the landscape to build durable fences and ultimately a stone chapel. At the age of twenty-seven years, he takes on the almost insurmountable challenge of building a bridge over the treacherous River Taff to help expand the growing economy and coal trade. It takes the effort of local coal workers, farmers, and townspeople working together, sometimes in odds with local magnates, to achieve the feat. After two attempts at building three-arched bridges that are destroyed in floods, he devises a plan to work with the landscape and build a single arched bridge solidly anchored on higher ground. Based on reading this book, I found an image of the bridge on the internet and am amazed that it still stands today.

Author David E. Owen not only explores the life’s journey of William Edwards, but he provides a lens on the social structure of Pontypridd by introducing fictional characters from various classes. As the townspeople works together to overcome a dangerous river that routinely floods, the class stratification begins to meld as various workers unify for a common goal. The arrival of new shopkeepers servicing the needs of the expanding community also transforms the town. The bridge is a metaphor of how various stones in the bridge (representing people) must be placed to build an enduring and productive community. Major human accomplishments rely on coalition rather than single force.

The prose is beautifully written and vividly describes the landscape and the task of meticulously placing stones in such a way that they will support the structure. There are poignant moments in the story that show how determination, resilience, and compassion help meld people into a thriving community. One scene that resonated with me is how William took in a banished, unwed pregnant woman to care for his ailing mother despite the townspeople’s disapproval. When his mother dies, the caretaker gives birth to a baby daughter, signaling a new beginning. The author’s historical note provide insight on the building of the bridge and about the ability of one craftsman to inspire a community into belief. It should be noted that it was difficult for me, at first, to read the book with its interior print formatting that did not include paragraph indents and pagination.

Overall, I recommend When the Stones Held to those who enjoy reading about the intricacies of bridge building and how the vision and about how one craftsman defined a community that coalesce to build a monumental bridge that would stand for centuries.

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