Capel Sion

Seren Classics

by Caradoc Evans, John Harris (Editor)

Caradoc Evans is perhaps the most controversial writer Wales has ever produced. His first book, My People , met with outrage from the pulpit and the popular press, was banned in Cardiff, but also earned Evans comparison with Zola, Joyce and Lawrence. In Capel Sion Evans returned to his themes with relish, attacking the Liberal-Nonconformist hierarchy which, he claimed, ground under its heel the peasantry of west Wales. The response was as it had been for his first book, confirmation that an outstanding author was writing at the height of his powers. Capel Sion was originally published in 1916. This edition is edited and introduced by John Harris, the leading authority of Caradoc Evans and tireless researcher into his life and work. Caradoc Evans (1878-1945) short story writer and novelist was born in west Wales. A controversial figure he worked in Carmarthen and London in the drapery trade before becoming a journalist and editor. His first book of stories, My People (1915) brought instant infamy for its portrayal of the west Wales peasantry and made him, for many years, the most hated man in Wales.

Genres: Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

David Caradoc Evans was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer, and playwright who wrote in English. He was married to writer Oliver Sandys.

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could honestly say I enjoy Caradoc Evans' writing. I feel like my emotions get in the way with Caradoc's work, though. I find him inflammatory, reductive, insensitive... And yet, I know that he was one of the fathers of Welsh writing in English, that his style is amazing and his manipulation of the English language masterful for someone who didn't speak it as his native tongue. I know that he was trying to free Wales of what he saw as parasites.

I still can't enjoy his work.

I enjoyed Capel Sion less than My People, even knowing that. My People had something original about it, and it didn't feel as plain nasty as some of the stories in Capel Sion do. Also, I think in My People the intent is clearer, and the dialect less incomprehensible. Caradoc flies off further in search of weird ways to express himself, here, until sometimes I'm not entirely sure I understand the story at all.

I'm somewhat glad this class isn't running, as I would continue to find Caradoc Evans completely fascinating and completely incomprehensible, and become even more irritated. If you're curious, skip Capel Sion and just read the original collection, My People. This edition does come with a good introduction about Capel Sion, though, which is pretty helpful in understanding Caradoc's intent and the point of the stories.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in short story format, Evans controversial work provides a brutal depiction of rural life in West Wales at the start of the 20th century. He holds Liberal-Non Conformism, and it's preachers and powerful supporters responsible for what he believes, was the crushing of the peasantry through pulpits. Evans condemns these forces as tyrannical, corrupt, hypocrites. The stories are dark, ugly, and reveal the basest of human failing. But for Evans, and other like minds, they expressed a reality that needed to be exposed for what it was.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Capel Sion was just...boring. I really enjoyed Evan's first short story collection My People, I thought it was dark, shocking in ways that are good and I had never read anything like it. While Capel Sion is very much an in the same style as My People, the stories themselves just weren't memorable. From other reviews, it seems some people have an issue with the overdone cruelty in these stories. I for one just found it incredibly dull, rather than disgusting. The introductory essay was probably the most entertaining part, that I do recommend lol.