This book is an account of how a boy born into a poor Irish family grew up in Ireland in the 1920s through the 30s, 40s, and 50s and what life and work were like. It describes how work was carried out on a small farm and the difficulties experienced that Im sure will ring true to many who have older Irish parents or even to those who left the country of their birth. It continues on to describe how the boy that became a man left his homeland to go to England to work and the life that he built there and at times the resentment that was felt toward the immigrant. It is at times saddening to read the experiences that he had, but throughout, he demonstrates the courage and fortitude that he gained from a hard young life, which carried him through to build a life and family.