Kate Roberts: Y Byw Sy’n Cysgu (The Living Sleep; later: The Awakening)

The latest addition to my website is Kate RobertsY Byw Sy’n Cysgu (The Living Sleep; later: The Awakening). This is a feminist novel, telling the story of Lora Ffennig, who learns one day that her husband has left her, stolen her nest egg and stolen from his employer, and run off with a another woman, abandoning Lora and their two children, a boy and a girl. The story is about the fall-out for Lora from this. While the community is initially sympathetic, they condemn her when Aleth Meurig, the local solicitor and former employee of both Lora’s husband and his lady friend, starts calling frequently, even though he only does so when she is not alone. Lora struggles with her own concerns, the reactions of others, the view of the community, her sister, her sister-in-law and mother-in-law, her children and simply trying to get her life back on track. It is a fine novel, well known in Wales but which should better known outside Wales.

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