CARADOC EVANS: THE DEVIL IN EDEN

John Harris (Seren Books)

In his compelling new biography of the writer once dubbed the ‘best-hated man in Wales’, John Harris allows us to view the life and work of Caradoc Evans through fresh eyes. During a career clouded in controversy, Evans gained literary notoriety due to his unglamorous, unflinching depiction of Welsh working-class life, most notably in his collection of short stories, My People. Many readers were upset by the grim view of Wales that Evans portrayed.

It wasn’t all bad. Evans gained rave reviews for his stark, spare tales. Loved by some critics and loathed by much of the Welsh public at the time, his body of work is now worth reevaluating; you get the sense that part of Evans’ unpopularity was due to him cutting close to the bone. Dylan Thomas was a fan, even referencing Evans in Under Milk Wood.

It is testament to Harris’ skill as a biographer that the public outrage surrounding Evans does not over-awe the rest of the narrative. Harris creates a thrilling and convincing version of events: the story of a working-class boy who makes something of himself, charting Evans’ rise from a frustrated young draper to a Fleet Street journalist and famous novelist.

Evans is a complex figure, and it takes someone of Harris’ talent to truly get to grips with him. The book is also an affecting love story. The last third covers Evans’ marriage to his second wife, fellow novelist Marguerite Barclay. Marguerite becomes the star of the show, as you feel she was for Evans. It’s surprising how quickly the 350 pages pass by, and it’s hard to see this book as anything other than a definitive biography.

words Joshua Rees

Price: £19.99. Info: www.serenbooks.com