On Show: A Good Old Read
Tuesday 17 January 2006
7.00pm
BBC Two Wales/2W

The BBC Wales arts documentary On Show: A Good Old Read takes a look at three of the first novels to be published under the 'Library of Wales' initiative.

This ambitious project aims to bring back to print classic English language literature from Wales chosen not as remote, academic studies, but works of popular interest.

The programme features Country Dance - written in 1932 by Ross-on-Wye's Margiad Evans - So Long, Hector Bebb by Rhondda author Ron Berry and Border Country by Raymond Williams.

We also hear interviews and readings of extracts from the novels by modern Welsh writers.

Pontypridd author Catrin Collier describes Country Dance as a potent glimpse of rural nineteenth century Wales.

Aberystwyth novelist Niall Griffiths refers to Ron Berry's tale of an emotionally scarred Rhondda boxer as "terrifying - don't go to it for an easy read".

Professor Dai Smith - who is writing a biography of Monmouthshire literary giant Raymond Williams - says 1960's Border Country is one of the most moving and accomplished novels written anywhere in the twentieth century.

The programme assesses the value to Welsh culture of the Library of Wales initiative. The project aims to appeal to general readers, so what will a book club in Caernarfon make of these novels?

The 'Library of Wales' project is overseen by the Welsh Books Council based in Aberystwyth and the books are published by Parthian from Cardigan.