CARYL LEWIS
Thursday, 13 July 9pm

The Aeron Valley in Ceredigion is steeped in history and was one of Dylan Thomas' favourite but secret retreats. So claims Caryl Lewis, author of award-winning novel Martha, Jac a Sianco, as she walks and talks with Iolo Williams.

“Dylan Thomas certainly named his daughter Aeronwy after the local river,” says Caryl. “They say that Caitlin went out on horseback when pregnant and bumped into my grandmother. She told her that if she gave birth to a son she would call him Aeron. Later, Dylan asked what would happen if they had a daughter, Caitlin replied that she would be named Aeronwy.”

Her first novel is a tale of two brothers Jac and Sianco and their sister Martha, who lived on an isolated rural farm. Caryl explains the novel is a refection of a way of life in rural Wales that is slowly fading.

“This valley is close to my heart and when I walk around the area it is hard to relate to the vision of today’s modern Wales. It's as if I exist in two separate worlds. The duality is reflected in my own life. Living on a farm, I love to be able to get out and help after spending a whole day writing at a desk.”