‌Swansea University’s Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH) will launch the Story I and Story II anthologies in the Library of Wales series in an event next week

Lecture title: Story I and Story II anthologies

Speaker: Professor Dai Smith, the Raymond Williams Chair in Cultural History within the Centre for Research into the English Literature and Language of Wales (CREW) will give a key note introduction on Wales and the Short Story. This will then be followed by readings from Professor Stevie Davies and Rachel Trezise and George Brinley Evans of their short stories from the two volumes.

Date: Wednesday 26 March 2014

Time: 6.30pm

Venue: The Council Chamber, Singleton Abbey, Swansea University

Admission: All welcome

Longer event Summary

Story I

The Library of Wales’ Story anthologies feature the very best of Welsh short fiction, written amid the political, social and economic turbulence of twentieth century Wales and beyond. More than eighty outstanding works from the classics of Dylan Thomas, Rhys Davies, Arthur Machen and Gwyn Thomas to the almost forgotten brilliance of work by Margiad Evans and Dilys Rowe and then forward to the prize-winning work of Emyr Humphreys, Rachel Trezise and Leonora Brito, colouring and engaging in the life of a changed country. 

Story I depicts a Wales wracked by a driving capitalism, shriven by hypocrisy and soon devastated by two world wars; but still creative, resilient and sometimes laughing uproariously. The writers produced stories to entertain, engage and share in the intimate lives of a distinctive people. 

In this selection Dai Smith has crafted an anthology that gives a unique insight into the life of a country and the talent of its major writers.

Story II

The Library of Wales’ Story anthologies feature the very best of Welsh short fiction, written amid the political, social and economic turbulence of twentieth century Wales and beyond. More than eighty outstanding works from the classics of Dylan Thomas, Rhys Davies, Arthur Machen and Gwyn Thomas to the almost forgotten brilliance of Margiad Evans and Dilys Rowe and then forward to the prize-winning work of Emyr Humphreys, Rachel Trezise and Leonora Brito, colouring and engaging in the life of a changed country. 

Story II depicts a Wales facing-up to a dramatically changed culture and society in a world where the old certainties of class and money, love and war, of living and surviving do not hold. The writers explore the spirit of a country while the ground keeps shifting beneath them. 

In this selection Dai Smith has crafted an anthology that gives a unique insight into the life of a country: identity; language; class; sex are all are explored intensely in this kaleidoscope of the best of the last fifty years of Welsh short fiction.