New Welsh Review 71, Spring 2006

Editorial:

Words and Pictures (Francesca Rhydderch)

Just over ten years ago, Planet Books published an intriguing and lavishly illustrated book, Words with Pictures: Welsh images and images of Wales in the popular press 1640-1860, by Peter Lord. This fascinating exploration of over two centuries of popular art was not Lord’s first book, nor would it be his last: previous publications included works on Francis Crawshay and Hugh Hughes, as well as his highly influential pamphlet, The Aesthetics of Relevance. He has since gone on to produce several monographs on Welsh visual art, three of which – Medieval Vision, Industrial Society and Imaging the Nation – were published as an all encompassing trilogy. Taking Lord’s work as a whole, it is evident that he has single-handedly restored the history of Welsh art to the nation; his is a phenomenal body of work.
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Features

• Robbing the Bride by Zoe Brigley
  Zoe Brigley explores the work of Sue Williams, who has been shortlisted for the Artes Mundi Prize 2006 (the winner will be announced on March 31st). Both poet and artist share an interest in the role of women in contemporary society, as revealed by Williams’ compositions, which are ‘disturbingly squalid, consisting as they do of muddled lines, uneven boundaries, graffiti-like text and rough spontaneous sketches’.
  
  
• The Graphic Novel: 'Literature's Mutant Sister' by Paul Gravett
  Paul Gravett considers the rise of the graphic novel from despised comic book to literary prize nominee.
  
  
• The Mapping of Power and the Power of Maps by Mike Parker
  Mike Parker argues that a good map can be read, enjoyed and interpreted like a good book, and discusses how Wales has been portrayed cartographically over the centuries.
  
  
• 'It's own concrete language' by Simon Harris
  Simon Harris considers the tensions between literary drama and visual performance, and how the crucial contribution made by theatre designers is often overlooked in the creative process.
  
  
• Photo / poem collaboration by David Hurn and Matthew Francis
  Magnum photographer and Faber poet combine their work.
  
  
• Photo Essay by Jo Mazelis
  
  
  
• An Artists' Writer by Katherine Dodd
  The artist descibes the influence that Niall Griffiths has had on her work.
  
  
• Preview by various
  What's on in Wales, March to May 2006
  
  

Fiction

• Bryn Euryn Games by Tony Conran
  Short story
• The Shady Seat by Rae Howells
  Short story

Poems

Poems by :
Dannie Abse
Ruth Bingham
John Kinsella

Reviews

The majority of books reviewed in New Welsh Review can be bought online from gwales.com, the Welsh Books Council's online bookshop, by simply clicking on the 'buy now' icon. For any that are unavailable, please contact the publishers or ask in your local bookshop. All details were correct at the time of publication.

• Poems 1968-2004 by Carol Rumens
  Published by Bloodaxe
  ISBN 1852246804  pb £12.00
  Reviewed by Sarah Wardle
  
  
• My Neighbours by Caradoc Evans
  Published by Planet Books
  ISBN 0954088158  pb £6.95
  Reviewed by Kathryn Gray
  
  
• Melog by Mihangel Morgan (trans. Christopher Meredith)
  Published by Seren
  ISBN 1854113933  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by Amanda Hopkinson
  
  
• The Shop by Emyr Humphreys
  Published by Seren
  ISBN 1854113909  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by Gerard Woodward
  
  
• Welsh Writing in English: A Yearbook of Critical Essays Volume 9 (2004) by Ed. Tony Brown
  Published by New Welsh Review
  ISBN 0708318290  pb £11.95
  Reviewed by Stephen Knight
  
  
• Welsh Writing in English: A Yearbook of Critical Essays Volume 10 (2005) by Ed. Tony Brown
  Published by New Welsh Review
  ISBN 070831984X  pb £12.95
  Reviewed by Stephen Knight
  
  
• Durer's Hare by Anna Wigley
  Published by Gomer
  ISBN 184323498X  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by Tiffany Atkinson
  
  
• The Meaning of Flight by Christopher Meredith
  Published by Seren
  ISBN 1854113860  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by Tiffany Atkinson
  
  
• The Huntress by Pascale Petit
  Published by Seren
  ISBN 1854113968  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by Jeni Williams
  
  
• The Scarab by Catherine Fisher
  Published by Hodder Children's Books
  ISBN 0340878940  pb £5.99
  Reviewed by Carrie Jadud
  
  
• Darkhenge by Catherine Fisher
  Published by The Bodley Head
  ISBN 0370328590  hb £10.99
  Reviewed by Carrie Jadud
  
  
• To Be A Woman: The Life of Jill Craigie by Carl Rollyson
  Published by Aurum Press
  ISBN 1854109359  hb £20.00
  Reviewed by Sarah Broughton
  
  
• Croation Nights: A Festival of Alternative Literature by Ed. Borivoj Radakovic, Matt Thorne and Tony White. Translated by Celia Hawkesworth
  Published by Serpent's Tail
  ISBN 1852428600  pb £8.99
  Reviewed by David Lloyd
  
  
• Urban Welsh: New Welsh Fiction by Ed. Lewis Davies
  Published by Parthian
  ISBN 1902638425  pb £9.99
  Reviewed by David Lloyd
  
  
• Even the Rain is Different: Women Writing on the Highs and Lows of Living Abroad by Ed. Gwyneth Tyson
  Published by Honno
  ISBN 1870206630  pb £7.99
  Reviewed by David Lloyd
  
  

Letters

• Mis-reading Sheenagh Pugh - Matthew Francis
• Gwyneth Lewis and American films - Phil Knight
• A re-evaluation of John Tripp - Geoffrey Williams