6 Nofel: Ffion Dafis 6 Nofel


6 Nofel: Ffion Dafis

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-My name is Ffion Dafis. I'm an

-actress and a television presenter.

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-I was just checking it was you.

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-Alwyn's just gone upstairs.

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-Let them do their job.

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-He's Matthew Glyn, I'm Ffion Dafis.

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-I was forced to read

-Cysgod Y Cryman in 1987...

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-..like many Welsh teenagers...

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-..who were studying

-Welsh O Level at the time.

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-This is the book

-I stole from Ysgol Tryfan...

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-..and studied for O Level.

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-I'm proud to say the notes

-I scribbled in the margin...

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-..continue throughout the book

-to the last page.

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-It's not often that a set book...

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-..prompts someone

-to read it for pleasure.

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-It's nice that my sister, Eleri...

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-..studied the same book

-two years later.

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-It still contains

-the notes she made too.

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-It's nice looking back.

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-Seeing my childish handwriting

-brings back memories of my youth.

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-"Regards himself as a kind of god.

-He doesn't understand tradition."

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-"Expresses

-Greta's conflicting thoughts."

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-"Makes use of the senses

-like Kate Roberts."

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-Islwyn Ffowc

-would be pleased to hear that!

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-"Introduces characters

-by their thoughts."

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-"Sets the scene skilfully."

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-I was obviously captivated by it

-at a young age.

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-Although the novel

-was written back in 1953...

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-..and society

-seemed old fashioned...

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-..to a teenager in the 1980s...

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-..it was a real page turner.

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-It contains romance, conflict...

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-..and a new

-political ideology, communism...

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-..that I, as a 15-year-old,

-knew nothing about.

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-It provided the backdrop for

-the novel, and at that young age...

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-..I realized I was reading

-a literary masterpiece...

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-..in terms of

-Islwyn Ffowc's poetic style...

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-..when describing Powys

-and its enchantment.

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-While working as a minister,

-Islwyn Ffowc Elis wrote the novel...

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-..in Llanfair Caereinion

-in the 1950s.

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-The region inspired his writing.

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-The novel

-is essentially a family saga...

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-..portraying the lives

-of wealthy farmers in Powys.

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-After a long tradition

-of farming in the region...

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-..the son, a university student,

-turns their lives upside down...

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-..when he decides

-to become a communist.

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-Conflict ensues within the family

-and society itself.

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-I'm sure many of us

-who've read the novel...

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-..have conjured up

-our own images of Lleifior.

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-Somewhere like Pen-Y-Dyffryn

-behind me, perhaps?

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-When I moved to the Banw Valley

-in Montgomeryshire...

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-..I noticed

-a significant difference...

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-..in rural society.

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-There were

-ordinary farmers, of course...

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-..and then there were

-prominent landowners.

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-They weren't English squires,

-but cultured Welsh-speaking folk.

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-Farmers with 300 acres and more.

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-And there were numerous farms

-like Lleifior in the vicinity.

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-"It was a turbulent summer

-in the Aerwen Valley that year.

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-"January's frost gnawed at the soil,

-February and March brought a purge.

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-"April's floods

-washed its poison to the sea.

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-"The soil was purified and revived,

-making it vibrantly verdant.

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-"The lengthy purge

-delayed the harvest.

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-"The grass was silken and luscious.

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-"Sons greased the machines

-and whetted the knives...

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-"..in anticipation of harvest crops.

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-"Fathers interpreted the sunsets.

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-"They slyly eyed up

-each other's fields...

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-"..taking cues from Edward Vaughan.

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-"Edward Vaughan

-knew when the grass had matured...

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-"..and when it was time to harvest.

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-"His sixth sense told him

-when to hold back and when to begin.

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-"Today Edward Vaughan cut the grass.

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-"Six of Lleifior's

-300 hectares had been mown...

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-"..leaving a green swath at dusk.

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-"The night

-brought with it new aromas...

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-"..as he leaned against the gate

-beneath the trees.

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-"He walked purposefully

-to the house...

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-"..his 65-year-old frame

-was tall and upright."

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-I'm on my way

-to meet Professor John Rowlands...

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-..who's very familiar

-with Islwyn Ffowc Elis's work.

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-What were the novel's virtues

-in terms of a Welsh context?

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-The fact that is was so popular...

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-..and appealed to

-the younger generation...

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-..of which I was one,

-believe it or not!

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-It's true

-that he was a novelist of his time.

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-He captured the zeitgeist,

-as it were.

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-People were so fond of this novel,

-they wanted a sequel.

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-But instead he wrote an experimental

-offering which was quite different.

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-It was a novel

-which earned him harsh criticism.

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-There are obvious failings...

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-..but we love them because they're

-part and parcel of the novel.

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-Does that make sense?

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-I agree with you because

-I've read it countless times.

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-I read it again

-for this programme.

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-It got to me again.

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-Me too. I was in tears.

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-The word I'd use is heartbreaking.

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-What is it about the book

-that makes us feel that way?

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-It's black and white and there are

-many stereotypes but it gets to you.

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-Why is that?

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-I don't know, but

-the characters are very realistic.

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-Then again, if you analysed them,

-they'd turn out to be stereotypes.

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-It's a very good novel to discuss

-in a literary group or something...

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-..because the minute you start

-discussing it, you find weaknesses.

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-But when you read it for pleasure,

-you lose yourself in the story.

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-I felt I had to tell a story that'd

-grip the reader's imagination...

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-..from start to finish.

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-It was a challenge.

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-Once you start analysing it,

-you find weaknesses.

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-But it grips you, no matter

-how many times you read it...

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-..because of the story.

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-I don't think it was written

-with an award in mind.

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-He couldn't believe....

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-..it had been nominated for

-the Book of the Century prize.

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-"A good read" was the term used

-to describe the novel at the time.

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-He knew how to write

-a good story and enjoyed doing so.

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-It won Book of the Century

-due to its popularity.

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-Coming from

-a traditionally liberal family...

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-..there is one event which changes

-Harri Vaughan's political ideology.

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-The seed was planted

-at the National Eisteddfod.

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-Who was responsible for planting

-that seed? Gwylan Thomas, no less.

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-"'Will you buy a copy

-of Y Cryman, please?'

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-"Harri gazed at the girl.

-He was sure he'd seen her before.

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-"She was a slender woman,

-dressed simply in white cotton.

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-"She had dark hair and dark eyes.

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-"He couldn't say she was pretty,

-though her eyes were pretty.

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-"She urged men to look at her.

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-"'I've seen you before,' said Harri.

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-"'Who's the publisher?'

-'A student press.'

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-"'Do they belong

-to a sect or a party?'

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-"'Communists.' 'I thought as much.'

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-"'Why?' 'The sickle

-is one of your symbols, isn't it?'

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-"'You know a great deal about us.'

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-"'You're being sarcastic now.'

-'Not at all.'

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-"'But what about the hammer symbol?

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-"'Your paper should be called

-Y Morthwyl a'r Cryman.'

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-"'That title's too long. There's

-a double significance to the title.'

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-"'The bourgeois

-must first be scythed...

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-"'..before building

-a classless society.'

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-"'Then I must be scythed

-because I belong to the bourgeois.'

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-"'Join the party

-and you won't be bourgeois then.'

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-"'The society

-you belong to must be scythed.'

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-"'You expect me

-to thresh my mother and father...

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-"'..and all the people I know?'

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-"'Not if they

-see the light in time.'

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-"'Where can the light be found?'

-'In Y Cryman.'

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-"'I'll buy it.'

-'Thank you very much.'"

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-Islwyn Ffowc Elis

-has inspired a number of authors...

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-..one of whom is Bethan Gwanas.

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-I must've read the book in 1992.

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-It was 1995 when I

-applied to the Arts Council...

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-..for a bursary

-to write a novel called Amdani.

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-In those three years...

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-..I hadn't planned on

-writing a novel.

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-It was a dream of mine but

-I never thought it'd materialize.

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-Something happened

-after reading this.

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-He wrote for ordinary people.

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-His aim was to popularize novels...

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-..and get young people

-to read Welsh literature.

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-That's precisely

-what I wanted to do. This has dated.

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-Young people today would have

-a bit of difficulty reading it.

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-Our written language

-has been simplified.

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-Something new was called for

-in the mid-1990s....

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-..especially for girls,

-which is why I wrote Amdani.

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-I resorted to swearing

-and a bit more sex than Islwyn!

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-Every generation is different.

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-I'm almost certain

-this inspired me to follow my dream.

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-I like the description

-of Edward Vaughan in the fields.

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-He's a nobleman and a heroic figure

-who knows how to read the weather.

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-I like the dialogue between Harri

-and Gwylan when they first meet.

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-The sexual tension is palpable.

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-But the passage

-which made me go, 'Yes!'...

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-..is when Greta shows

-she has backbone and is independent.

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-Paul tells her that his father

-had met her mother some time ago.

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-"'And do you know what he said?'

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-"His eyes

-promised a hilarious response.

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-"'That she was the first

-decent Welsh woman he'd ever met.'

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-"'And if her daughter was anything

-like her, she'd do.' He laughed.

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-"But Greta wasn't laughing.

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-"She said quietly, 'I shall

-forgive you this once, Paul.'

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-"'But in future, I shall consider

-all such quips about my people...

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-"'..to be in very bad taste.'"

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-Good girl!

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-But she still ends up marrying him.

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-Harri's politics have a detrimental

-effect on the people around him.

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-Gwylan has persuaded him

-to break off his engagement.

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-Although he has

-talked about communism with Greta...

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-..his father knows nothing until he

-finds a book by Lenin in his room.

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-"'Your bedroom window was rattling,'

-said Edward Vaughan.

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-"'I went in to close it

-to stop it disturbing your mother.

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-"'I found this by your bed.'

-'Have you read it?' said Harri.

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-"'I've read some of it.'

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-"'It's a book about communism,

-given that it's written by Lenin.'

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-"'I'm not ashamed to be reading it.'

-'Why not?'

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-"'Lenin was

-the greatest man of this century.'

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-"Harri bit his tongue, but it

-was too late. His secret was out.

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-"Edward placed the book on the table

-and stood opposite Harri...

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-"..his hands behind his back.

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-"'Do you know how much I'm worth?'

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-"'I can't see

-what that has to do with...'

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-"'You should know, just so that you

-see the mess you're about to make.'

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-"'Between Lleifior, Tyddyn Argain...

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-"'..my two farms, my shares

-in war stock and defence bonds...

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-"'..and the money I've loaned,

-I'm worth around 40,000.'

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-"'Yes, you've a right

-to be surprised.'

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-"'You stand to inherit

-the majority of my estate...

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-"'..once I'm dead and buried.'

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-"'Within 10 years,

-or perhaps even a year...

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-"'..you could be worth 25,000.'

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-"'Then you'll be a capitalist.'

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-"'A major capitalist,

-by Welsh standards.'

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-"'Which is the strongest -

-Lenin or 25,000?'

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-"'I need to know because

-I'm meeting my solicitor tomorrow.'

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-"'Waking up a rich man might change

-your mind, but I can't be sure.'

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-"'If the Communist Party

-will benefit...

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-"'..Greta or Bethel chapel

-will inherit my money...

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-"'..along with

-my nieces and nephews.'

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-"'Tell me,

-what will you do with it?'

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-"'This is a dilemma,'

-Harri thought to himself.

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-"'I couldn't keep it,' he said,

-in a monotonous voice.

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-"'Very well.'

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-"Without uttering another word,

-his father walked out of the room."

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-The friction between father and son

-forces Edward Vaughan...

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-..to cut Harri out of the will.

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-He sells the estate which has been

-in his family for generations.

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-Although it pains Edward,

-it is the only option.

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-Generations of Welsh people

-have read Cysgod Y Cryman...

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-..since it's been a set book on

-the Welsh syllabus for many years.

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-What does a reading group

-in Aberystwyth make of the book?

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-We usually discuss

-contemporary Welsh novels.

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-Sometimes we read

-English-language offerings...

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-..as well as Welsh classics by

-Kate Roberts or Islwyn Ffowc Elis.

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-Well, I'm here

-to bring you a classic!

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-Is it a novel

-that appeals to you all?

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-For many readers in Wales, Cysgod

-Y Cryman typifies Welsh literature.

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-It's long been

-on the school syllabus.

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-It's one sure way of killing a book.

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-A friend told me he'd read the book

-but doesn't remember the story.

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-It brings back memories

-but not of the story itself.

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-It's been widely read,

-but what stays in the mind, Jane?

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-The fact it deals with important

-ideas of the 20th century...

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-..such as communism

-and how it affects Wales.

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-It depicts the Wales of old

-which bordered on being feudal.

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-New ideas are introduced and it

-expresses 20th-century sentiments.

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-A period of upheaval.

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-It's a thought-provoking novel.

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-With so many

-Welsh-language books available...

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-..it's surprising how much

-of an impact this novel had.

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-Many important issues

-are explored in the book...

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-..but romance

-is portrayed very effectively.

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-There are several love stories

-running through the book...

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-..and there is conflict

-between two generations.

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-Those elements captivate the reader.

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-Although different ideas

-are explored in the book...

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-..they don't saturate the novel.

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-There are strong characters. Harri

-Vaughan is incredibly charismatic.

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-The friction between his father

-and him is the central theme.

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-The obvious thing

-we haven't discussed...

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-..is the novel's style...

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-..and the use of poetic Welsh...

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-..which I loved from the outset.

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-It wasn't too flowery

-Do you disagree, Dafydd?

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-Too flowery, in your eyes!

-But I don't think so.

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-I agree that the style is fantastic

-and the writing's great.

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-"It was turbulent summer

-in the Aerwen Valley" and so on.

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-He could've cut out a lot of that.

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-Oh, no! I don't want

-a single bit of it cut out!

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-He's been

-greatly influenced by someone.

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-For me, I'd say his style...

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-..is too florid.

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-I don't think

-it's too poetic at all.

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-It's just good use of Welsh.

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-It's very rhythmic.

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-The writing flows well

-and it's a pleasure to read.

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-That's true.

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-So we'd all agree that

-it's a classic that has survived?

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-It's definitely survived...

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-..but a few aspects

-have become a little outdated.

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-I think we're all agreed...

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-..that it's a classic

-that has touched us.

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-It's been lovely having

-the opportunity to read it again.

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-It's been a long time

-since I read it.

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-I was surprised

-how much I enjoyed reading it.

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-I hear you give marks

-out of 10 for the novels...

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-..so how would you rate it, Ifor?

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-Seven and a half.

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-Seven and a half.

-

-Eight and a half.

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-Eight and a half.

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-Eight and a half.

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-Eight and a half.

-

-I'll give it eight.

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-I think it's important

-that a novel tells a story...

0:21:050:21:09

-..and characters

-should be memorable.

0:21:090:21:12

-But an author

-should create an instant experience.

0:21:120:21:16

-That's what any artist should do.

0:21:160:21:18

-You paint a picture

-and get an experience from it.

0:21:190:21:22

-You should get an experience

-from listening to a symphony.

0:21:230:21:27

-If you read a novel

-for 18-20 hours...

0:21:270:21:29

-..you're transported

-to that world...

0:21:300:21:32

-..and live through those experiences

-you wouldn't have had otherwise.

0:21:330:21:37

-The novel concludes with Greta

-adhering to her father's wishes...

0:21:400:21:46

-..and marrying

-the English doctor, Paul Rushmere...

0:21:460:21:50

-..and Harri getting engaged

-to an ordinary local girl.

0:21:500:21:54

-The night before selling the estate,

-Edward Vaughan accepts...

0:21:540:21:58

-..that the social strata

-is changing...

0:21:580:22:01

-..and Harri gets to run Lleifior

-as a co-operative venture...

0:22:010:22:05

-..thus keeping it in the family.

0:22:060:22:08

-"Harri slowly turned

-to face the sunset.

0:22:140:22:16

-"A ray of light

-streamed though the window...

0:22:170:22:20

-"..and shimmered

-above the mantelpiece...

0:22:200:22:23

-"..as if it were

-shining a spotlight on something.

0:22:240:22:27

-"Harri turned to see what it was.

0:22:280:22:30

-"Illuminated

-by the rays of sunshine...

0:22:300:22:33

-"..and standing proudly on the wall,

-hung the Vaughans' coat of arms.

0:22:330:22:38

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:23:050:23:07

-.

0:23:070:23:08

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