Welcome to the History Extra Podcast, fascinating historical conversations from BBC History magazine

and BBC History Review.

In March 1984, miners across Britain walked out of the pits and didn't go back.

What followed was one of the longest, largest and most acrimonious strikes in British history.

As miners stayed out of work to fight for the survival of their livelihoods and communities.

Based on more than 140 interviews with former miners and their families and supporters,

historian Robert Gilday's new book, Backbone of a Nation charts the story of the strike

through their eyes.

I spoke to him to find out more.

The book, Backbone of a Nation charts the story of the 1984 to 5 miners strike.

You call the miners strike an erudifying moment in modern British history.

What do you think makes it so?

Well, the miners strike of 845 was the last great industrial battle, if you like, fought

on British soil.

I mean, the interesting thing is, there's now a new battle.

I mean, the labour movement has come back in Britain in the last year or so.

And there's a lot of strike action.

But for a long time, there was very little strike action.

Basically, because Mrs. Thatcher, who was prime minister at the time, decided to take on

the miners' union, which was incredibly powerful, represented about 200,000 miners.

It was very well organised.

They had fought for better wages and better pay and better conditions.

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