Once in Every Lifetime explained

Once in Every Lifetime is a novel by the Scottish writer Tom Hanlin first published in 1945.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

This debut novel by a then unknown Scottish miner sold 250,000 copies in the United Kingdom in the first three weeks of publication.^[8] It also won the £500 first prize in the Big Ben Books Competition,^{[6] [9]} and was translated into more than a dozen languages.

The novel was serialized in Woman's Home Companion,^[10] and a radio version was later broadcast on BBC Radio. Norman Collins, writing in the Observer, wrote that "his novel is an idyll of young love that somehow became sour and unlovely amid the grim landscape of the pitheads. It is brief, moving in places, almost unbearably so, and often beautiful. In short Mr. Hanlin is a remarkable fellow." John Steinbeck also spoke enthusiastically of the author, declaring the book "excellent."^[11]

Notes and References

1. Pithead Metaphysics: Tom Hanlin’s Once in Every Lifetime by Manfred Malzahn in ScotLit No 8 (Aberdeen: Association for Scottish Literary Studies, Autumn 1992), pp. 3–4.
2. Once in Every Lifetime reviewed by Carlos Baker (Virginia Quarterly Review, 1946, published by University of Virginia)
3. News: review of Once in Every Lifetime. The Scotsman. 4 October 1945.
4. News: review of Once in Every Lifetime. The Guardian. 26 November 1944.
5. News: review of Once in Every Lifetime. The Observer. 23 September 1945.
6. News: Scot Miner Writes Moving Novel On Life's Beauty, Love, Horror. 15 January 2013. The Toronto Daily Star. 28 August 1949.
7. The New Masses. 26 March 1946.
8. News: review of Once in Every Livetime. 15 January 2013. Ottawa Citizen. 10 November 1945.
9. News: winners of Big Ben book prize. The Manchester Guardian. 26 November 1944.
10. Web site: Armadale community website. 15 January 2013.
11. Book: Conversations with John Steinbeck. 9780878053605. 19 January 2013. Steinbeck. John. 1988.