Caradoc Evans (1878–1945)

This is a great book. It is a collection of stories about the lives of working people in Wales in the early 1900's. The culture is dominated by the religion which is very patriarchal, autocratical & harsh. The stories dramatize the situation of women, who are treated as beasts of burden and breeders. It shows how people's lives are stunted by the poverty and the religion and the ignorance. I'm sure all life wasn't always like this but there is an essential truth here.

Dylan Thomas praised Evan's book with out let-up. H. G. Wells trumpeted: 'There was one, who is too little esteemed, who has done the thing (of telling people about the trade shops) with a certain brutal thoroughness, and he tells a great deal of truth. That is Caradoc Evans in his book NOTHING TO PAY. In America H. L. Mencken offered 100 free copies to the local libraries. V. S. Pritchett said: 'There is a wild sardonic humor about Mr. Evan's hatred, something which whips the narrative off show more realism's earth.
If Gywn Thomas had a mean side it just might sound like Caradoc Evans. Though Evans' prose style is much sparer than the author of THE WORLD CANNOT HEAR YOU. show less

Biblical and harsh. Definitely worth reading, even if just a story or two.

http://sycoraxpine.blogspot.com/2006/09/great-expectations-book-132-and-24.html