Alys Conran is at the forefront of the Welsh literary scene. Her debut novel Pigeon won the Wales Book Award in 2017, as well as numerous other accolades, including the Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award as well as being shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize. The first novel to be published simultaneously in English and Welsh, Pigeon has been ground-breaking in more ways. than one.
Described by Owen Sheers as “a novelist of rare accomplishment and skill whose use of language and characterisation effortlessly carries readers away,” it is little wonder that Conran’s works have garnered such success. Her writing is known for its authenticity, its adept use of language and heart. Her second novel, Dignity, has also received critical acclaim, lauded by Claire Fuller as ‘fierce, compassionate, angry, but above all, heart-breakingly real.”
These interviews and reviews offer insight into the life and works of an accomplished and innovative author.
Bill Rees reviews Pigeon, the debut novel from Alys Conran, and finds a narrative that is “thoroughly engaging” and “heart wrenching”.
Alys Conran in Conversation | Translation
In May of this year at the Blue Sky cafe in Bangor, at the goodbye party of iconic 55 year old Welsh language literary review Taliesin, Angharad Price spoke to novelist Alys Conran and translator Sian Northey about Conran’s debut novel, Pigeon, which was published earlier this year simultaneously in English and Welsh. Here we publish an English rendition of a conversation originally conducted in Welsh.
In the first of a new series of articles, in partnership with Bath Spa University and their Centre for Transnational Creativity, we look at the concept of transnational literature.
Jenn Ashworth in conversation with Alys Conran
Alys Conran speaks with Jenn Ashworth about her most recent novel, Fell, its origins, teaching, and the writing process.
Inuit in Wales: Connecting Languages | Rolling Blog
Wales Arts Review proudly brings you Alys Conran‘s blog on her experiences accompanying the seventeen members of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s Language Committee in the Arctic as they embark on an educational visit to the UK to learn about language regeneration and revitalisation. The committee is currently engaged in a process to consolidate all of the current written forms of the Inuit language into one standard version.
Gary Raymond interviews Alys Conran
Two years ago Alys Conran was just another struggling writer, waiting for her debut novel, Pigeon, to be published by independent Welsh publisher Parthian Books. But now, at the end of 2017, she is a multi-award-winning novelist, winner of three awards at this year’s Wales Book of the Year to add to a shortlisting for the International Dylan Thomas Prize. Already, many view Conran as a senior figure on the Welsh literary scene. Gary Raymond caught up with Alys to discuss an exciting year.
Dignity by Alys Conran | Books
Kathryn Tann reviews Dignity, the second novel of Wales Book of the Year-winning author Alys Conran.
Dignity by Alys Conran: Book Club Interview
May’s Book of the Month is Alys Conran’s new novel Dignity, which won the first vote by quite a margin, beating both Hummingbird and A Simple Scale to be the first book club read.
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