The book itself draws inspiration from this unfaltering devotion. Designed to emulate a real Bible, and printed using all of the same materials — from the textured leather cover to the scritta Bible paper — it is a testament to the people featured inside and the beliefs they hold so dear. Speaking on this, Robert says “A big part of this region is coal and talks about good and evil, right and wrong, and I wanted to illustrate a world drenched in coal and struggle, so I decided to make the exterior solid black. As a result, when you open the book, you have this nice contrast between black and white, representing this notion of right and wrong.”

However, beyond its aesthetic and symbolic power, the book also functions as an invitation to others to open their minds. Though many may turn their noses up at a book resembling a Bible, Robert says his high hopes for Gloryland is in its potential to facilitate connection and communication.

“Many people initially rejected the book because of its association with a church, which I found very foolish. Pre-judging people or groups without even knowing the story is a massive problem in America. Hopefully, people experiencing this book will be inspired to understand their neighbours more and explore communities they have never experienced. It’s ok not to believe in the same thing, I don’t believe in what the church believes, but I respect it and respect them.”

Gloryland is available to purchase through the Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles and soon to be published and distributed in Europe through Setanta Books.