This story was originally published under the title Hiraeth. I’ve changed it to A Deep Longing as hiraeth is a Welsh word (see below) which confused some people and they did not read further.
Huw Jones’s story takes place in the late 1960s, during a period of significant change in British society. Huw, a 14-year-old from the baby boomer generation, encounters a series of challenges including loss, confusion, and hardship, which he faces without companionship. His actions are influenced by hiraeth, a concept from the Welsh language for which there is no direct English equivalent. Hiraeth expresses a sense of yearning, longing, belonging, and connection to the land of Wales.
Seeking to address the sense of emptiness resulting from his losses, Huw begins a personal journey to understand his own identity during the transition from childhood to adulthood.
While much of the dialogue in the narrative would have originally occurred in the Welsh language, only a few Welsh words are included for narrative flow.
Explanations for context: “The Valleys” refers to a group of parallel valleys in South Wales where much of the region’s industrial activity, especially coal mining and steel production, took place. This area maintains a distinct subculture and accent within Wales.
Welsh, spoken by over 600,000 people in Wales today, has some variation between North and South Welsh, but is mutually understood. Common Welsh terms used include taid (grandfather), nain (grandmother), mam (mother), bach (‘little one’), cariad (term of affection used by families and close friends), and Duw (God).
The First XV rugby team designates a school’s top rugby team, with Roman numerals indicating the number of players (XV = fifteen), like the USA’s Varsity teams. The rugby position “hooker” refers to the central forward in the front row of a scrum, responsible for winning the ball and performing throw-ins during lineouts. Football in this story refers to what is known as soccer in the USA.
Grammar schools were selective state schools for pupils aged 11-16 (sometimes 18) based on academic achievement. Most education authorities ended student selection by academic aptitude in the late 1960s.
This is a story of fiction but the locations and contemporary events — especially the dreadful events at Aberfan — are real. Many of Huw’s experiences are based in real events in my life.
The story is a slow burn but stick with it and I’m sure you’ll be glad you did.
This story is dedicated to my friend and literary inspiration Mihangel. Many thanks to Cole Parker and Alan Dwight for patiently editing the text.
Copyright © 2013–2025 Huw Jones
Posted 1 November 2025