Facing Death - A Tale of the Coal Mines is a story with a purpose. It is intended to show that a lad who makes up his mind firmly and resolutely will rise in life, and he who is prepared to face toil and ridicule and hardship to carry out his determination, is sure to succeed. The hero of the story is a typical British boy; dogged, earnest, generous, and though "shame-faced" to a degree, is ready to face death in the discharge of duty. This hero, an orphan named Jack Simpson, at the age of about 10, begins work in the coal mines. Full of excitement, the book relays a strike against the mine owners, a riot against the youth of the town and one catastrophe after another, culminating in a deadly explosion. Our maturing hero discovers a way to escape from certain death in the mine and assumes the most dangerous actions needed to save himself and others. The author stated that this book was his own personal favorite, and the best among his books for boys.