Our Bookshelf
Browse our Bookshelves, selected annually by the Exchange as a window to recent Welsh literary works which we recommend for translation.
“Rebecca F John’s clear portrayal of Vulcana as a woman of exceptional physical ability and fame, with menstrual and post-partum bleeding, ‘uneven legs’, a ‘slightly wider left eye’, ‘heavier right breast’, and unconventional relationships, is not just relatable but essential to mainstream perception.”
Nation Cymru
“With this novel, Rebecca F John has reinforced her reputation as one of Wales’ most versatile and interesting voices.”
Nation Cymru
“Beautifully written, thought-provoking & a touching love story.”
Tracy Rees
“All the glamour and grit of music halls. A truly empathetic portrayal of a brave, independent young woman.”
Essie Fox
Vulcana
An inspirational fictional telling of Welsh Victorian Strongwoman, Kate Williams, from one of Wales’ most versatile and interesting voices
On a winter's night in 1892, Kate Williams, the daughter of a Baptist Minister, leaves Abergavenny and sets out for London with a wild plan: she is going to become a strongwoman. But it is not only her ambition she is chasing. William Roberts, the leader of a music hall troupe, has captured her imagination and her heart. In London, William reinvents Kate as 'Vulcana – Most Beautiful Woman on Earth', and himself 'Atlas'. Soon they are performing in Britain, France, Australia and Algiers. But as Vulcana's star rises, Altas' fades, and Kate finds herself holding together a troupe of performers and a family. Kate is a woman driven by love – for William, her children, performing and for life. Can she find a way to be a voice for women and true to herself?
- Honno (2023)
Honno
press@honno.co.uk
Reviews
“Rebecca F John’s clear portrayal of Vulcana as a woman of exceptional physical ability and fame, with menstrual and post-partum bleeding, ‘uneven legs’, a ‘slightly wider left eye’, ‘heavier right breast’, and unconventional relationships, is not just relatable but essential to mainstream perception.”
Read more reviewsNation Cymru