This is more than just a collection of mining words,  it is a heartfelt story that brings together the words spoken by miners of the North East pits and how they relate to the wider language-world of the region. It brings together pit literature including jokes, stories, words and songs that are fast disappearing. One of the last major mines in the North East region closed in 2005 and with it went the knowledge of the way of life that would soon be forgotten. Through dialect, words, humour, stories and songs this book will help you to delve into and have a better understanding of the history, the people and the working lives and of the miners and their place and influence they had in the wider community. 

 ‘…reveals an exceptionally rich combination of borrowings from Old Norse, Dutch and a score of other languages, with inventive usages dreamed up by the miners themselves.’ The Guardian

‘Fills a huge gap in present day knowledge of the subject and at the same time it is an exceptional read.’ Beamish Museum

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