To celebrate Jan Morris's eightieth birthday her colleagues and successors explore both the writing and the writer. The result is a biography full of intimate insights into her character, and a history of post-war travel writing.

I ddathlu pen blwydd Jan Morris yn wyth deg oed, daeth ei chyd-weithwyr a'u holynwyr yn y maes ynghyd i archwilio'r person a'i gwaith. Y canlyniad yw bywgraffiad sy'n taflu goleuni ar ei chymeriad a hanes ysgrifennu llyfrau taith ers y rhyfel.

The book comprises twenty essays by colleagues and friends with a charming preface by Paul Theroux.

These memoirs range from the brief but revealing experiences of the photographer and painter whose portraits of Jan provide the cover images to affectionate anecdotes by life-long friends and the grateful 'love-letters' of those who feel they owe their inspiration and their own careers to her encouragement. All testify to the excellence and range of the work, but clearly it is the writer's personality which has prompted such a warm tribute. The words 'grace', 'generosity', 'modesty' and 'courage' occur repeatedly and while the essayists' enthusiasm certainly encourages us to read Morris's many books, it is the quality of friendship she has given and inspired which remains with the reader.

The essays and bibliography refer to a remarkable life and a remarkable talent. The international reputation built by James's journalism, works of popular history and masterpieces of description like 'Venice' have, in Jan's time, acquired a Welsh focus. Indeed, she has become an important interpreter of Wales to that wider world. Her strong 'sense of place' is as perceptive and eloquent on home ground as it has been on her world-wide travels.

I was particularly impressed by Morris's influence on the younger generation such as Pico Iyer, Simon Winchester and Don George, not just as a stylistic icon but as an active and generous mentor when already a famous 'name'. It is significant that this compilation is not a 'memorial' but a birthday gift to a friend who is, happily, very much alive.

Caroline Clark

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.