'This is the story of a love greatly tested and of the resilience of ordinary Australians sucked into a pointless war by propaganda. It's enough to turn you into a war protester.' - Australian Women's Weekly

It's 1914 and the coal town of Lithgow is booming. Daniel Ackerman is a serious young man a miner a socialist and German; Francine Connolly is the bourgeois Irish-Catholic too-good-for-this-place daughter of one of the mine owners. When a tragic accident forces them together this class-crossed pair fall in love despite themselves.

Before the signatures on their marriage certificate are dry though war erupts and a much more terrifying obstacle confronts them. Against his principles but driven by a sense of solidarity Daniel enlists; Francine horrified has no choice but to watch him go.

Thrown into a daunting new world of separation and grief they learn things about each other they might never have known in more certain times - hard lessons about heroism sacrifice and the thin line between bravery and stupidity.

Told with freshness verve and wit Black Diamonds is the tale of a fierce young nation Australia and two fierce hearts who dare to discover what courage really means.