Library of Wales at the Eisteddfod 2012

 

We had a wonderful time on our stall at the mostly gloriously sunny Eisteddfod in the Vale of Glamorgan last week. On Wednesday Parthian Books launched the Kate Roberts' classic novel Feet in Chains, in a new translation by Katie Gramich.
 
Kate Roberts (1891-1985) was the towering figure of Welsh- language fiction in the twentieth century. Feet in Chains is her masterpiece. Katie Gramich's translation does justice to the austere beauty of Roberts’s style and takes the reader into the heart of a different culture, a different world.
 
Prof. Katie Gramich is a Reader in English Literature at Cardiff University. A specialist in the literature of modern Wales and in rediscovering neglected Welsh women writers, she has served as Chair of the Association for Welsh Writing in English and edits the Almanac series. 
 
Katie Gramich and Jon Gower were on hand at stall no. 1136 to discuss the title, pictured below with the striking new cover:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and here are Eluned Gramich and Jon Gower enjoying a moment in the shade:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewing for Wales Arts Review, James Vilares welcomes Katie Gramich's touch:
"A tower in Welsh language writing, Kate Roberts’ 1936 novel Feet in Chains has been re-translated for a new edition, launched at the Eisteddfod this week. The scheduling is no surprise. Where better to launch the iconic Welsh language novel than at the pinnacle of Welsh language culture, which prizes literature so highly. 
 
"[...]What the Eisteddfod doesn't offer (and not many literary awards differ) is a prize for literary translation, which is a shame. As the UK's uniquely bilingual nation, wouldn't it be nice if we could lead the way in celebrating literature in translation? Katie Gramich would be a worthy winner, her translation of that rare breed which balances faithfulness, context, readability and appropriateness for a modern audience."
 
Read the review in full on Wales Arts Review.

You can see our full photo album from the Eisteddfod over on Facebook.

Buy Feet in Chains from the Parthian online bookshop for £8.99.

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