An English translation of Vento Ferido, a collection of 12 powerful short stories which present a vivid portayal of life's hardships and sufferings for the poor inhabitants of Galicia in the 1950s and 1960s under Franco's dictatorial regime.

Cyfieithiad Saesneg o Vento Ferido, casgliad o 12 stori fer rymus yn cynnig portread byw o galedi a dioddefaint bywyd i drigolion tlawd Galicia yn ystod yr 1950au a'r 1960au o dan reolaeth unbenaethol Franco.

This collection of short stories translated from the Galician by Rosa Rutherford shows us aspects of the lives of people living in 1950s-60s Galicia under the Franco regime. Casares’s prose reflects the effects of the repressive environment of the time, when the Galician language was harshly discouraged.

The overall atmosphere of the stories resonates with frustration and oppression. Each one seems to focus on a relatively small event or interaction between two or more characters: long-lost memories and old feuds, for example, in ‘The Capon Cote’, which shows the rekindling of resentment in a town bar of the death of a young man’s cherished donkey at the hands of an older local man. The terrible sadness in ‘Blind for Good’ reflects the generally oppressive nature of the times.

The brevity and neatly concise structure of the individual stories allows the reader to remember the impact of the subject matter with clarity and emotion.

Overall, an interesting insight into another culture and era, a fascinating collection to read.

Clare Maynard

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.