6 Nofel: Ffion Dafis 6 Nofel

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-My name is Ffion Dafis. I'm an

-actress and a television presenter.

-I was just checking it was you.

-Alwyn's just gone upstairs.

-Let them do their job.

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

-I was forced to read

-Cysgod Y Cryman in 1987...

-..like many Welsh teenagers...

-..who were studying

-Welsh O Level at the time.

-This is the book

-I stole from Ysgol Tryfan...

-..and studied for O Level.

-I'm proud to say the notes

-I scribbled in the margin...

-..continue throughout the book

-to the last page.

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

-..prompts someone

-to read it for pleasure.

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

-..studied the same book

-two years later.

-It still contains

-the notes she made too.

-It's nice looking back.

-Seeing my childish handwriting

-brings back memories of my youth.

-"Regards himself as a kind of god.

-He doesn't understand tradition."

-"Expresses

-Greta's conflicting thoughts."

-"Makes use of the senses

-like Kate Roberts."

-Islwyn Ffowc

-would be pleased to hear that!

-"Introduces characters

-by their thoughts."

-"Sets the scene skilfully."

-I was obviously captivated by it

-at a young age.

-Although the novel

-was written back in 1953...

-..and society

-seemed old fashioned...

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

-..it was a real page turner.

-It contains romance, conflict...

-..and a new

-political ideology, communism...

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

-knew nothing about.

-It provided the backdrop for

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

-..I realized I was reading

-a literary masterpiece...

-..in terms of

-Islwyn Ffowc's poetic style...

-..when describing Powys

-and its enchantment.

-While working as a minister,

-Islwyn Ffowc Elis wrote the novel...

-..in Llanfair Caereinion

-in the 1950s.

-The region inspired his writing.

-The novel

-is essentially a family saga...

-..portraying the lives

-of wealthy farmers in Powys.

-After a long tradition

-of farming in the region...

-..the son, a university student,

-turns their lives upside down...

-..when he decides

-to become a communist.

-Conflict ensues within the family

-and society itself.

-I'm sure many of us

-who've read the novel...

-..have conjured up

-our own images of Lleifior.

-Somewhere like Pen-Y-Dyffryn

-behind me, perhaps?

-When I moved to the Banw Valley

-in Montgomeryshire...

-..I noticed

-a significant difference...

-..in rural society.

-There were

-ordinary farmers, of course...

-..and then there were

-prominent landowners.

-They weren't English squires,

-but cultured Welsh-speaking folk.

-Farmers with 300 acres and more.

-And there were numerous farms

-like Lleifior in the vicinity.

-"It was a turbulent summer

-in the Aerwen Valley that year.

-"January's frost gnawed at the soil,

-February and March brought a purge.

-"April's floods

-washed its poison to the sea.

-"The soil was purified and revived,

-making it vibrantly verdant.

-"The lengthy purge

-delayed the harvest.

-"The grass was silken and luscious.

-"Sons greased the machines

-and whetted the knives...

-"..in anticipation of harvest crops.

-"Fathers interpreted the sunsets.

-"They slyly eyed up

-each other's fields...

-"..taking cues from Edward Vaughan.

-"Edward Vaughan

-knew when the grass had matured...

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

-"His sixth sense told him

-when to hold back and when to begin.

-"Today Edward Vaughan cut the grass.

-"Six of Lleifior's

-300 hectares had been mown...

-"..leaving a green swath at dusk.

-"The night

-brought with it new aromas...

-"..as he leaned against the gate

-beneath the trees.

-"He walked purposefully

-to the house...

-"..his 65-year-old frame

-was tall and upright."

-I'm on my way

-to meet Professor John Rowlands...

-..who's very familiar

-with Islwyn Ffowc Elis's work.

-What were the novel's virtues

-in terms of a Welsh context?

-The fact that is was so popular...

-..and appealed to

-the younger generation...

-..of which I was one,

-believe it or not!

-It's true

-that he was a novelist of his time.

-He captured the zeitgeist,

-as it were.

-People were so fond of this novel,

-they wanted a sequel.

-But instead he wrote an experimental

-offering which was quite different.

-It was a novel

-which earned him harsh criticism.

-There are obvious failings...

-..but we love them because they're

-part and parcel of the novel.

-Does that make sense?

-I agree with you because

-I've read it countless times.

-I read it again

-for this programme.

-It got to me again.

-Me too. I was in tears.

-The word I'd use is heartbreaking.

-What is it about the book

-that makes us feel that way?

-It's black and white and there are

-many stereotypes but it gets to you.

-Why is that?

-I don't know, but

-the characters are very realistic.

-Then again, if you analysed them,

-they'd turn out to be stereotypes.

-It's a very good novel to discuss

-in a literary group or something...

-..because the minute you start

-discussing it, you find weaknesses.

-But when you read it for pleasure,

-you lose yourself in the story.

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

-grip the reader's imagination...

-..from start to finish.

-It was a challenge.

-Once you start analysing it,

-you find weaknesses.

-But it grips you, no matter

-how many times you read it...

-..because of the story.

-I don't think it was written

-with an award in mind.

-He couldn't believe....

-..it had been nominated for

-the Book of the Century prize.

-"A good read" was the term used

-to describe the novel at the time.

-He knew how to write

-a good story and enjoyed doing so.

-It won Book of the Century

-due to its popularity.

-Coming from

-a traditionally liberal family...

-..there is one event which changes

-Harri Vaughan's political ideology.

-The seed was planted

-at the National Eisteddfod.

-Who was responsible for planting

-that seed? Gwylan Thomas, no less.

-"'Will you buy a copy

-of Y Cryman, please?'

-"Harri gazed at the girl.

-He was sure he'd seen her before.

-"She was a slender woman,

-dressed simply in white cotton.

-"She had dark hair and dark eyes.

-"He couldn't say she was pretty,

-though her eyes were pretty.

-"She urged men to look at her.

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

-"'Who's the publisher?'

-'A student press.'

-"'Do they belong

-to a sect or a party?'

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

-"'Why?' 'The sickle

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

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

-"'You're being sarcastic now.'

-'Not at all.'

-"'But what about the hammer symbol?

-"'Your paper should be called

-Y Morthwyl a'r Cryman.'

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

-a double significance to the title.'

-"'The bourgeois

-must first be scythed...

-"'..before building

-a classless society.'

-"'Then I must be scythed

-because I belong to the bourgeois.'

-"'Join the party

-and you won't be bourgeois then.'

-"'The society

-you belong to must be scythed.'

-"'You expect me

-to thresh my mother and father...

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

-"'Not if they

-see the light in time.'

-"'Where can the light be found?'

-'In Y Cryman.'

-"'I'll buy it.'

-'Thank you very much.'"

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-Islwyn Ffowc Elis

-has inspired a number of authors...

-..one of whom is Bethan Gwanas.

-I must've read the book in 1992.

-It was 1995 when I

-applied to the Arts Council...

-..for a bursary

-to write a novel called Amdani.

-In those three years...

-..I hadn't planned on

-writing a novel.

-It was a dream of mine but

-I never thought it'd materialize.

-Something happened

-after reading this.

-He wrote for ordinary people.

-His aim was to popularize novels...

-..and get young people

-to read Welsh literature.

-That's precisely

-what I wanted to do. This has dated.

-Young people today would have

-a bit of difficulty reading it.

-Our written language

-has been simplified.

-Something new was called for

-in the mid-1990s....

-..especially for girls,

-which is why I wrote Amdani.

-I resorted to swearing

-and a bit more sex than Islwyn!

-Every generation is different.

-I'm almost certain

-this inspired me to follow my dream.

-I like the description

-of Edward Vaughan in the fields.

-He's a nobleman and a heroic figure

-who knows how to read the weather.

-I like the dialogue between Harri

-and Gwylan when they first meet.

-The sexual tension is palpable.

-But the passage

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

-..is when Greta shows

-she has backbone and is independent.

-Paul tells her that his father

-had met her mother some time ago.

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

-"His eyes

-promised a hilarious response.

-"'That she was the first

-decent Welsh woman he'd ever met.'

-"'And if her daughter was anything

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

-"But Greta wasn't laughing.

-"She said quietly, 'I shall

-forgive you this once, Paul.'

-"'But in future, I shall consider

-all such quips about my people...

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

-Good girl!

-But she still ends up marrying him.

-Harri's politics have a detrimental

-effect on the people around him.

-Gwylan has persuaded him

-to break off his engagement.

-Although he has

-talked about communism with Greta...

-..his father knows nothing until he

-finds a book by Lenin in his room.

-"'Your bedroom window was rattling,'

-said Edward Vaughan.

-"'I went in to close it

-to stop it disturbing your mother.

-"'I found this by your bed.'

-'Have you read it?' said Harri.

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

-"'It's a book about communism,

-given that it's written by Lenin.'

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

-'Why not?'

-"'Lenin was

-the greatest man of this century.'

-"Harri bit his tongue, but it

-was too late. His secret was out.

-"Edward placed the book on the table

-and stood opposite Harri...

-"..his hands behind his back.

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

-"'I can't see

-what that has to do with...'

-"'You should know, just so that you

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

-"'Between Lleifior, Tyddyn Argain...

-"'..my two farms, my shares

-in war stock and defence bonds...

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

-I'm worth around 40,000.'

-"'Yes, you've a right

-to be surprised.'

-"'You stand to inherit

-the majority of my estate...

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

-"'Within 10 years,

-or perhaps even a year...

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

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

-"'A major capitalist,

-by Welsh standards.'

-"'Which is the strongest -

-Lenin or 25,000?'

-"'I need to know because

-I'm meeting my solicitor tomorrow.'

-"'Waking up a rich man might change

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

-"'If the Communist Party

-will benefit...

-"'..Greta or Bethel chapel

-will inherit my money...

-"'..along with

-my nieces and nephews.'

-"'Tell me,

-what will you do with it?'

-"'This is a dilemma,'

-Harri thought to himself.

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

-in a monotonous voice.

-"'Very well.'

-"Without uttering another word,

-his father walked out of the room."

-The friction between father and son

-forces Edward Vaughan...

-..to cut Harri out of the will.

-He sells the estate which has been

-in his family for generations.

-Although it pains Edward,

-it is the only option.

-Generations of Welsh people

-have read Cysgod Y Cryman...

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

-the Welsh syllabus for many years.

-What does a reading group

-in Aberystwyth make of the book?

-We usually discuss

-contemporary Welsh novels.

-Sometimes we read

-English-language offerings...

-..as well as Welsh classics by

-Kate Roberts or Islwyn Ffowc Elis.

-Well, I'm here

-to bring you a classic!

-Is it a novel

-that appeals to you all?

-For many readers in Wales, Cysgod

-Y Cryman typifies Welsh literature.

-It's long been

-on the school syllabus.

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

-A friend told me he'd read the book

-but doesn't remember the story.

-It brings back memories

-but not of the story itself.

-It's been widely read,

-but what stays in the mind, Jane?

-The fact it deals with important

-ideas of the 20th century...

-..such as communism

-and how it affects Wales.

-It depicts the Wales of old

-which bordered on being feudal.

-New ideas are introduced and it

-expresses 20th-century sentiments.

-A period of upheaval.

-It's a thought-provoking novel.

-With so many

-Welsh-language books available...

-..it's surprising how much

-of an impact this novel had.

-Many important issues

-are explored in the book...

-..but romance

-is portrayed very effectively.

-There are several love stories

-running through the book...

-..and there is conflict

-between two generations.

-Those elements captivate the reader.

-Although different ideas

-are explored in the book...

-..they don't saturate the novel.

-There are strong characters. Harri

-Vaughan is incredibly charismatic.

-The friction between his father

-and him is the central theme.

-The obvious thing

-we haven't discussed...

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

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

-..which I loved from the outset.

-It wasn't too flowery

-Do you disagree, Dafydd?

-Too flowery, in your eyes!

-But I don't think so.

-I agree that the style is fantastic

-and the writing's great.

-"It was turbulent summer

-in the Aerwen Valley" and so on.

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

-Oh, no! I don't want

-a single bit of it cut out!

-He's been

-greatly influenced by someone.

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

-..is too florid.

-I don't think

-it's too poetic at all.

-It's just good use of Welsh.

-It's very rhythmic.

-The writing flows well

-and it's a pleasure to read.

-That's true.

-So we'd all agree that

-it's a classic that has survived?

-It's definitely survived...

-..but a few aspects

-have become a little outdated.

-I think we're all agreed...

-..that it's a classic

-that has touched us.

-It's been lovely having

-the opportunity to read it again.

-It's been a long time

-since I read it.

-I was surprised

-how much I enjoyed reading it.

-I hear you give marks

-out of 10 for the novels...

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

-Seven and a half.

-Seven and a half.

-

-Eight and a half.

-Eight and a half.

-Eight and a half.

-Eight and a half.

-

-I'll give it eight.

-I think it's important

-that a novel tells a story...

-..and characters

-should be memorable.

-But an author

-should create an instant experience.

-That's what any artist should do.

-You paint a picture

-and get an experience from it.

-You should get an experience

-from listening to a symphony.

-If you read a novel

-for 18-20 hours...

-..you're transported

-to that world...

-..and live through those experiences

-you wouldn't have had otherwise.

-The novel concludes with Greta

-adhering to her father's wishes...

-..and marrying

-the English doctor, Paul Rushmere...

-..and Harri getting engaged

-to an ordinary local girl.

-The night before selling the estate,

-Edward Vaughan accepts...

-..that the social strata

-is changing...

-..and Harri gets to run Lleifior

-as a co-operative venture...

-..thus keeping it in the family.

-"Harri slowly turned

-to face the sunset.

-"A ray of light

-streamed though the window...

-"..and shimmered

-above the mantelpiece...

-"..as if it were

-shining a spotlight on something.

-"Harri turned to see what it was.

-"Illuminated

-by the rays of sunshine...

-"..and standing proudly on the wall,

-hung the Vaughans' coat of arms.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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