Out of the Darkness: A Novel (Courageous Series) by David A. Jacinto
Out of the Darkness was inspired by the true story of a nineteenth-century child coal miner who rose out of the ashes of poverty and tragedy to reach for his dreams.
At age seven, Tom Wright follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him into England’s mid-nineteenth-century Yorkshire coal mines. He struggles with childhood fears, working twelve-hour days, six days a week, in the darkest depths of a dangerous coal mine. That is until disaster strikes, taking the lives of his boyhood friends in one of England’s most tragic accidents in its long coal mining history. Devastated, Tom is determined to change his fate laid out for him by the tyrannical system of industrial slavery.
This is the fast-moving story of a young boy overcoming the iron-fisted rule of the massively wealthy lord of the land, who not only owns and rules much of South Yorkshire, its coal mines, and the villages the mining families live in, but the mortgage on their very lives. With the help of his brilliant, passionate, self-educated mother, Tom rises above his beginnings despite the tyranny of his lordship’s brutal psychopathic enforcer and a society fostering the oppression of the working class.
We follow Tom into adulthood, on his path to a brilliant career, through the tragedy of yet another of the largest industrial disasters in England’s history, in his fight against child labor, and his love affairs with two strong-willed, determined women. And finally, we see his family’s escape to America to pursue their dreams in book two of The Courageous Series. Theirs has become a vast family legacy, including their seven-year-old great, great, great, great grandson Cole, pictured on the front cover of this book.
Review
“Out of the Darkness is a powerful story of the industrial enslavement of children by aristocratic overlords during England’s nineteenth-century Industrial Revolution. It is a story of overcoming adversity, and the power of family infused with the gospel of Christ to help a young boy rise from his desperate beginnings to reach great heights. Out of the Darknesstells a wonderfully powerful and uplifting story of the nineteenth-century American immigrant.”–Tim Ballard, best-selling author, rescuer of children, and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, the inspiration behind the movie Sound of Freedom.
“Out of the Darkness is a compelling and inspiring read. It is a testament to the human will that tells its story with honesty and with gratitude for those who paved the way for a family to flourish for generations. The first of a two-volume set, it sounds a powerful prelude for an even greater story yet to come.”–Eric Stemle, 2003 Wyoming Teacher of the Year, Author of I Was Not the Blossom: Growing With Your Students in a Nurturing Classroom
“Out of the Darkness is a novel rich in historic significance and current relevance. The tale of Thomas Wright and his family is an epic that does more than simply give a voice to the ills of the Industrial Revolution. It depicts the struggles and triumphs of the men and women in this era, and in them, makes real the consequences of unfettered capitalism coupled with new technology that outpaces moral logic. We face similar challenges today, with technological developments pushing the boundaries of our ethical understanding, and we need models for how to respond. Jacinto’s characters demonstrate the courage, faith, humility, and determination that are needed to respond to the crises of our present and our future.”–Matthew B. Hoyt, Historian and Adjunct Instructor, Brigham Young University
“Beautifully written, Out of the Darkness is a captivating historical novel that demonstrates the author’s masterful storytelling prowess. Through meticulous attention to historical detail, the book effortlessly transports readers to a bygone era that is at once charming and terrifying. The characters, richly developed and deeply relatable, breathe life into the pages–their triumphs, pain, and desire resonating with authenticity. Historical events seamlessly blend with the narrative, creating a riveting love story that leaves readers spellbound until the final page.”–Amy Osmond Cook, President of Osmond Marketing Company
“Dave Jacinto has done something very special with Out of the Darkness. It is more than a heartfelt tribute from a grateful descendent of great people; it is also a carefully researched history that recreates a moment in history that we need to understand.”–Marilyn Green Faulkner, bestselling author of The User-Friendly Book of Mormon
“David Jacinto’s Out of the Darkness is a masterful exploration of perseverance. The author brilliantly weaves themes of resilience throughout the narrative, guiding readers on a transformative journey that mirrors the protagonist’s own experience.” –Mike Carey, former BBC radio presenter
“Mr. Jacinto’s skill in illustrating these themes is evident, as he adeptly balances moments of actual historical conditions while inviting readers to reflect on their own life experiences. This combination of history and human relationships leaves a lasting impression, making it an unforgettable read.” –NaVee Vernon, Summit County Historian (ret.)
“The limits of resilience are put to the test on this journey back to mid-19th-century Yorkshire, England. It’s a time and place where children work long hours in coal mines and oppressive wealthy lords of land are in control during early industrialization. David Jacinto’s Out of the Darkness is historical fiction, but something not unfamiliar to his own personal history, with characters who come from his own ancestry nearly 200 years ago.
It’s a story of love, disaster, and resourceful toughness, which comes alive through Jacinto’s richly detailed storytelling and natural, engaging conversations.
As readers follow the protagonist, Tom Wright, they witness the struggles and resilience of people caught in the web of oppressive systems. Jacinto’s storytelling captures the era, painting a picture of the challenges experienced by the working class. Out of the Darkness takes us to a pivotal time in history, and leaves a lasting impact as it reminds us of the incredible human spirit in the face of adversity.
The dark depths of a dangerous coal mine is the literal setting for Wright’s early life, and the perfect metaphor for what he must overcome.”–Andrew Luria, 11-Time Emmy Award Winner, Anchor Fox Five and Author of The Adventures of Charlie Marley
–This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
David Jacinto was born into a family living on the wrong side of the tracks and has been a storyteller ever since. He was the first in his extended family to attend college, and as a student athlete at one of the most prestigious universities in the country, he received his degree in civil engineering. He went on to serve as a president of SM Engineering Company, held leadership roles in multiple national and international companies along the west coast of California, and was on the board of directors for a few more. He was also commandeered by the State of California on special assignment as chief engineer to help rescue California’s three major utilities on the verge of bankruptcy during the highly publicized, 300-billion-dollar energy crisis in 2001.
David has had numerous speaking engagements over his successful career, frequently interjecting colorful, fascinating, and humorous stories of his life experiences. Some of these stories are drawn from his ill-spent youth, some from his many business successes, and some from family experiences. But all delivered with the greatest respect for the opportunities America has afforded him and a thankfulness to those fallen leaves from the family tree of immigrants who made it all possible.
Despite his business successes, he supposes his greatest achievements have been to convince the fetching Anne Gray to become his wife, the good fortune to be a part of the lives of his four wonderful children, their wives and husband, and the blessing to be Papa J to thirteen near-perfect grandchildren.
–This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
David A. Jacinto
I’m often asked how I became a writer and where the inspiration for my first novel came from. Like most boys growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, I was never one to allow schoolwork get in the way of my education — how to make jumpin’ ramps for my bike, fishin’ rafts for the creek, or playin’ hooky to go down to the beach when the surf is good. I tried my best to follow the admonition of Mark Twain, “Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow.” I made it my hard and fast rule, to never take my schoolbooks home from Bell Avenue Elementary. In my mind, procrastination of my homework to do what was really important … was worth it.
You’d be surprised how much stimulation of the creative mind there is in the fertile ground of playin’ hooky with other disobedient boys. Oh, eventually, I did buckle down and do what society demands. I got a college education and dove into the corporate world for financial success. But always, in the back of my mind, my goal was to build a place somewhere on a quiet, secluded beach with plenty of surf. And time to uncover and explore the whim of inspiration in my creative soul.
Eventually, I did find that deserted beach and built my santuary from the world, entirely off-the-grid, because life is not a dress rehearsal. The best of it is here and then it’s gone. Frequently, I retire from civilization for days to surf and write; not seeing another soul along this deserted stretch of beach pounding with surf. With saltwater from my morning surf still in my ears, I often sit basking in the warmth of a southerly breeze, listening to Bocelli, the inspiring sounds of crashing waves … and just write. Drawing on inspiration from my unrepentant youth, my family, a lifetime of experiences, and of course, Elon Musk’s satellite internet, my thoughts are transported to another time and place. Unconsciously or maybe consciously, millions of outside sources influence the creative part of my mind. Ideas stollen from others make my stories possible. I feel a sense of pride in the accomplishment of cobbling together the ideas of thousands of others who have gone before; superstitiously imagining this discoloration of the story’s origins is entirely my creative masterpiece. I suppose my pride in the creation of an original work like Out of the Darkness, is largely misplaced, unwarranted. Nevertheless, I would not trade away the insatiable compulsion of writing a thought provoking novel like Out of the Darkness. It has been a fulfilling, faith-building experience like no other.
