A holiday abroad may not be possible this year because of Covid, but Bangor University lecturer and author Ifan Morgan Jones has written a new Welsh novel to provide the perfect escapism.
Brodorion is set on a topical island on the other side of the world, and the author’s aim whilst writing it was to offer a compelling page turner.
However, he says that the novel also discusses some of modern day’s most discussed topics. These include the nature of colonialism, the increase in nationalism, climate change and the housing crisis in Wales.
Ifan, leader of the journalism course at Bangor University, said he wanted to write something completely different to his previous novel, Babel, which won Welsh Book of the Year last year.
“Brodorion is located on an island, so I’m sure that a lot of people will think that the pandemic influenced the story,” he said.
“However, I think several of this year’s important issues had been on my mind as I wrote, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, the effect of climate change and the calls on the Welsh Government to get a grip on the housing crisis.
“As a journalist I think that novels have a part to play in our national conversations as well. And perhaps they offer more of an opportunity for the author and writer to think about and explore these subjects, compared to a short article or an even shorter tweet!
“My main aim though was to write a tense, readable novel in an exotic location with enough adventure, humour, unusual events, violence, sex and fun.
“I hope that even if people aren’t able to go on holiday this year because of Covid, people will be able to escape through the pages of this book to somewhere very different to Wales.”
In Brodorion, Efa, Myfyr, Teleri and Aled are offered the chance to go on an adventure, and a free holiday, at the same time. How could they refuse? But when they land on an exotic island, far from Wales, paradise is far from perfect, and the island itself has terrible secrets which are about to surface.
Brodorion is available now (£8.99, Y Lolfa).