An English translation of Traed Mewn Cyffion, one of the most popu lar novels of Kate Roberts, queen of Welsh literature, portraying the hardship of family life in the slate-mining community of north west Wales during the First World War.

Cyfieithiad Saesneg o Traed Mewn Cyffion, un o nofelau mwyaf poblogaidd Kate Roberts, 'Brenhines ein Llên', yn portreadu caledi bywyd teuluol yng nghymuned gweithfeydd llechi gogledd-orllewin Cymru yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf.

This novel, set in the period between 1880 and 1914, was first published as Traed mewn Cyffion in 1936. It appears now in English translation by John Idris Jones, though an earlier edition, published by John Jones in 1977, was said to be by John Idris Jones and Idwal Walters.

Feet in Chains tells the story of the family of Jane and Ifan Gruffydd, crofters and quarry-workers in north-west Wales, and of the society in which they live. It focusses on Jane as the mother of six children and wife of a hapless husband who virtually abandons her. By dint of sheer hard work and the most frugal of housekeeping, she manages to make ends meet, denying herself any comfort or pleasure that costs money.

It is a grim story, related in a severe, ungarnished style that chimes with the stoicism of the main character and her mute suffering. There is hardly any warmth in her life and what dignity she is able to muster has to do with going without and making do. In her terms it is a triumph just to be able to feed and clothe her family, without worrying about the finer things in life. Sentiment is a luxury she cannot afford.

As for the community, it is economically depressed and oppressed by the quarry-owners and their stewards. The English language is starting to make inroads into the staunchly Nonconformist villages, and the threat of war looms on the horizon. When the war at last begins, the fabric of communal life is being eaten away by vanity, snobbery, avarice, nosiness, and the hypocrisy of a narrow, joyless religion, as much excoriated in Kate Roberts’s stories as in the work of Caradoc Evans.

The scene in which Jane Gruffydd, having received a letter in English from the War Office, rushes to the shop to have it translated, only to learn that her son has been killed in France, is a masterpiece of understatement, especially as we know the author lost a brother in the conflict.

The chapter ends thus: ‘As Jane Gruffydd put her head down on the pillow and tried to close her eyes against the hurt, tens of sad thoughts came into her head. Amongst them was one further thought: she would not dread the sound of the postman again.’

Meic Stephens

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 ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.