Cyfres Cam at y Cewri: yn Ôl i Leifior

Islwyn Ffowc Elis

An adaptation of one of Islwyn Ffowc Elis's novels - the fourth title in a series of classics for adult Welsh learners.

ISBN: 9780863835131

Price: £5.75

Department: Fiction, Countryside, Learners, Intermediary

Format: Paperback

Language: Welsh

No. of pages: 193

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Reviews

This is a version of the popular novel by Islwyn Ffowc Elis, a sequel to his novel Cysgod y Cryman (1956), which is also part of this valuable series. By now, Harri Vaughan has succeeded in turning Lleifior into a co-operative commune and, under the influence of Gwylan, whom he knew as a student in Bangor, has become a Communist and atheist. Greta, his sister, has left for Liverpool as wife to the gifted but anti-Welsh surgeon Paul Rushmere. Karl, the amiable German, has left without declaring his love for Greta.

Soon Edward Vaughan, head of the family and a symbol of the old Liberalism, dies, and the novel draws to a close with a road accident in which Rushmere is killed. One of the novel's themes is how Harri Vaughan eventually comes to embrace his Christian faith. Karl returns to Montgomeryshire and, almost on the book's last page, tells Greta he has loved her all along.

These two books were a milestone in the development of the novel in Welsh, by virtue of the contemporaneity of the story, the natural dialogue and their appeal to younger readers, especially in their treatment of love and politics. They succeeded in attracting a new generation of Welsh readers at a time when there was a dearth of reading material in the language. They have become dated to a certain extent, of course, for the world has changed since the 'fifties, even in the countryside, but the novels are still eminently readable.

Basil Thomas, an expert in his field, has abridged the novel substantially, but without interfering with the fluent style. He has also provided simple notes to help the reader enjoy the novel. The book should be suitable for Welsh-learners of all ages who have some proficiency in the language and who are eager to read a real novel.

Both novels have been translated into English by Meic Stephens under the titles Shadow of the Sickle and Return to Lleifior. - Meic Stephens, Gwales

Blurb

An adaptation of one of Islwyn Ffowc Elis's novels - the fourth title in a series of classics for adult Welsh learners.

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