The book focuses on the revival of classic literature from the early 1900s and earlier, highlighting the scarcity and rising costs of these original works. It emphasizes the commitment to republishing these timeless pieces in modern, affordable editions while preserving the original text and artwork, making them accessible to contemporary readers.
Edwards was a graduate of University College, Cardiff and although spent time in Vienna, Florence and London this was her permanent home. Both Davies and Edwards were clearly influenced by Chekhov (Davies called him my god) and the stories in Rhapsody are reminiscent of his work. This novel established his name as a young writer to watch.
The second novel in the Rhondda Trilogy - 'the most sustained literary examination of Welsh industrial history ever published and certainly the least ideologically distorted' - A Time to Laugh (1937) is set in a coal-mining valley on the eve of the 20th century, against a background of industrial unrest and social change.
In this Library of Wales edition, with a foreword by Tomos Owen, the essence of his work is revealed with a new selection of dark, witty and finely crafted stories.