A varied and interesting collection of 20 short stories by women from Wales, such as Brenda Chamberlain, Margiad Evans, Allen Raine and others whose works are rarely seen in print, spanning the period 1850-1950. First published in 1999.

Casgliad amrywiol a diddorol o 20 stori fer gan ferched o Gymru, megis Brenda Chamberlain, Margiad Evans, Allen Raine ac eraill nas gwelir eu gwaith mewn print yn aml, yn ymestyn dros y cyfnod 1850-1950. Cyhoeddwyd gyntaf ym 1999.

This is a ground-breaking collection of Anglo-Welsh short stories written by women spanning the hundred years between 1850 and 1950.

Many of these stories received an initial flush of fame when they were first published; nonetheless they have since sunk into neglect, and gradually disappeared from the accepted canon of early 20th century Anglo-Welsh short stories. The publication of these literary works makes amends for this, and allows access to women’s Anglo-Welsh narrative perspective from this period.

With an introduction by Jane Aaron, Professor of English at the University of Glamorgan, this volume is the second publication in the Honno Classics series, which makes available the work of women writers for a 21st century audience.

The stories – which include works by Anne Beale, Allen Raine, Dorothy Edwards, Mary Webb, Hilda Vaughan, Brenda Chamberlain and Margiad Evans – celebrate a world-view critically different from that of contemporary male writers. The landscape of Wales, mountainous, inhospitable and dramatic, is central to many of these works. This theme, and an identification with the anarchic forces of the natural world, is common to many of the selected texts.

Another common theme is sympathy with the outsider and individuals beyond the pale of the conventional social domain, be that because of their age, sexual orientation or birth status. The very pedigree of these writers is relevant as they do not conform to the contemporary male Anglo-Welsh stereotype of educated working-class social commentator. Often associated with the Welsh and English border country, the background of these writers varies from established Welsh to Welsh-by-choice.

The volume allows these women’s voices to be made available once again to a new audience, as is only appropriate at a time when Wales as a nation is searching to ascertain the roots of its Anglo-Welsh identity. This is to be welcomed, not only in the pleasure which the stories themselves engender, but also to reveal their influence on other writers whose significance on the early 20th century literary stage is already established.

Liz Saville

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.