Shadow Plays

Shadow Plays is an anthology of fiction and poetry by twelve new writers from West Wales. While quality varies slightly, the best of these pieces are distinguished by a dramatic terseness and sense of urgency that makes for a compelling read.

Several pieces are in Welsh with facing page translations, testifying to a vibrant native-language literary culture: however, the collection as a whole is far from shackled by any local focus. In fact, this ambitious collection is evidence of all the best kinds of globalisation: local without being parochial, and international without losing a strong Welsh identity and voice, the pieces here range from West Wales as far afield as Hong Kong and the Middle East.

Spanning the whole register from deadly serious to surprisingly playful, Chandleresque short fiction to comic verse, this is a book that rewards attention, and says very hopeful things about the state of Welsh literature.