catherine

Catherine Morland, the young and impressionable heroine of Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey', was delighted to receive an invitation to visit the Tilney's ancestral home. She had spent many-a-hour imagining the castle-like manor brimming with stories of historic grandeur and mystery. Upon her arrival, she found the manor both imposing and breathtaking, adding a thrill to her youthful heart. The stone walls carried an old-world charm that whispered tales of late-night intrigue and theatrical romance, feeding Catherine's fascination for gothic novels.

Long before dusk had stained the sky, an army of women, men and younglings marched to the chorus of the awakening rooster. They were as grim as the cold morning fog which hung blankly over the French countryside. This place was 'Le Voreux', and the day had begun for the coal miners of this part of the world.