New Welsh Review 52, Spring 2001 PLEASE NOTE THIS ISSUE IS OUT OF PRINT

Editorial:

A defining moment (Robin Reeves)

Spring 2001 has the hallmarks of a defining moment in modern Welsh history. The proposed rundown of steel production and the threat to the future of Welsh agriculture posed by the worst foot and mouth epidemic in living memory strike at the foundations of two basic industries which created the Welsh urban and rural society and culture which we have inherited. Two other, once-dominant industries, coal and slate, are already a shadow of their former selves.
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Features

• The German and English Dimensions by Peter Stead
  Peter Stead concludes his series on the main political parties in Wales prior to the general election. This time around he examines the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, with particular emphasis on the question of leadership.
  
  
• The Comedy of Welsh Politics by Nicholas Murray
  An in-depth review of Patrick Hannan's non-fiction book, Wales Off Message: From Clapham Common to Cardiff Bay, which takes an amusing look at the Welsh political scene during the last three years of the twentieth century. Murray is impressed by the author's sharp analysis, finding the account both 'lively and fluently written.'
  
  
• The Dance of Misunderstanding by Christopher Meredith
  Richard John Evans, author of the new Rhondda-set novel, Entertainment, talks to Christopher Meredith. The discussion focuses on the author’s use of both realist and metafictive elements in his work, and his interest in the ‘post-everything’ generation.
  
  
• Life around the bottle bank by Stevie Davies
  Davies takes an in-depth look at Richard John Evans's debut novel, Entertainment, about growing up in a Rhondda wasteland whose streets are filled with alienated kids 'looking for trouble and free ciggies...'
  
  
• Ianto's Story by Jon Gower
  Jon Gower discusses Niall Griffith's second novel, Sheepshagger, with the Aberystwyth-based author. Their discussion covers topics including the writer's influences, perspective on nature, and use of graphic violence.
  
  
• Vanishing Tricks of a Goddess by Imogen Rhia Herrad
  Imogen Rhia Herrad traces apparitions of Morgan le Fay, a deity of the Welsh Otherworld, down the centuries, including her various incarnations in European legends.
  
  
• Spreading the word abroad by Sioned Puw Rowlands
  An essay examining the market for Wales's literature in translation, with particular focus on the sweeping success of Caradog Prichard's 1961 novel, Un Nos Ola Leuad (One Moonlit Night).
  
  
• 'A famous thing...that reacheth farre in length' by Keith Nurse
  Keith Nurse takes a fresh look at the history of two famous Welsh landmarks: Offa's Dyke and Wat's Dyke. New evidence seems to solve the puzzle of why these archaeological monuments might have been built within such close proximity to each other.
  
  
• River Map by Jim Perrin
  Perrin merges geographical exploration with an inner journey. Approaching the endgame of a difficult relationship, his narrator sets out to explore the River Dee, and finds that it passes through other planes than the physical one.
  
  
• Under Milk Wood's birth-in-exile by David N. Thomas
  Contrary to popular belief, most of Dylan Thomas's famous play for voices was written everywhere but in Wales, according to this essay from David N. Thomas.
  
  
• Small Nation, Big Cinema by Norman Schwenk
  Schwenk gives his views on the 12th International Film Festival of Wales. Films examined include Karl Francis's One of the Hollywood Ten, Marc Evans's Beautiful Music, and Blue Kenny- written and directed by Keir Alexander.
  
  
• Memories of Josef by Carol Morgan Hopkin
  A touching personal memoir, charting the longstanding friendship between the author's family and Polish artist Josef Herman.
  
  
• Art and Stuff by Jeni Williams
  Williams discusses a comi-tragedy of Welsh boys in London, dialogues with the past, and the limits of monologue. Plays examined include Catherine Tregenna's Art and Guff, Torch Theatre's revision of A Prayer for Wings, and Gary Owen's controversial piece, Crazy Gary's Mobile Disco.
  
  
• Rhyme, Rhythm and Song in Merthyr Tydfil by Mark Jenkins
  Jenkins reports on a bold operatic experiment undertaken by a creative team from the Wales National Opera. Alan Osborne, Ruth Byrchmore, and Sarah Alexander help children in Merthyr Tydfil create an exciting new piece based on Janacek's Katya Kabanova.
  
  
• Playing Away from Home by Tony Curtis
  Continueing his 'Private View' series, Curtis reports on the thriving visual arts scene in Wales, with focus on the latest work by William Brown, Clive Hicks-Jenkins, James Donovan, and Tony Alcock, among others.
  
  
• Scoring up the lottery and lighting up the city by Tôpher Mills
  As part of his ongoing series of Broadcasting Notes, Mills examines the latest offerings from BBC1 Wales and S4C, including the two-part comedy drama, Score, and the impressive documentary, Ellen MacArthur: Sailing Through Hell.