AN old fable from Pen Llyn has inspired an author to pen a powerful new novel.

A true story that survived the oral tradition is the subject of new novel Pantywennol by Ruth Richards.

It tells the story of Elin Ifans, a lively young woman in her teens who is hindered by the rural life of Pen Llyn during the 19th century.

Because of her obsession with the supernatural, Elin is given the name ‘Bwgan Pantywennol’ (the Pantywennol Ghost) by the locals, which raises tensions and conflicts within the community between religion and superstition.

This is Ruth’s first novel, and is based on a true story which was kept alive by word of mouth.

“I suppose what inspired me was the combination of studying 19th century literature for my MA, and memories of old stories from Pen Llyn I heard from my two nains,” said Ruth.

“I got hold of a book by Moses Glyn Jones and Norman Roberts about the history of the ‘bwgan’ and was somewhat surprised that no one had turned the story into a novel. What was so exciting was that there was plenty of history that had survived to form a basis which allowed me to construct a narrative around it myself.”

Read the full story in this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News