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ANOVEL set in a German city has won a writer the Prose Medal at the 2019 National Eisteddfod.
Ingrid is an European novel set in Stuttgart at a time when the Champagne is flowing, the jazz halls are overcrowded and the opera house is full.
Rhiannon Ifans, originally from Llanidan near Brynsiencyn, Anglesey but who now lives at Penrhyncoch, near Aberystwyth.
It is her first win at the National Eisteddfod but she is an experienced writer having published several award-winning books.
Speaking after the ceremony she said she entered the competition having accepted an invitation to be on the adjudicating panel next year.
“I’ve written academic books and books for children and I thought it was time to write a novel and also to see what it is like for those entering the competition next year,” said Mrs Ifans. She said the novel tells the story of Ingrid, a woman full of life who is slowly losing her mind and memory.
“Her story is told from the point of view of herself, her husband, her son and daughter-in-law. I have no personal experience of anyone suffering dementia but I did some research and found there will be one million people in the UK suffering from it by 2021. I wanted to explore how sufferers can be supported,” she said.
This year’s task was to compose a volume of creative prose of no more than 40,000 words on the theme of “Cylchoedd” (Circles).
The adjudicators were Mererid Hopwood, Aled Islwyn and Alun Cob and there were 18 entries.
Delivering the adjudication Mererid Hopwood said: “If the volumes were varied, I have to say at the beginning like this – so too – to a degree – the taste of the judges.
“And even though the January and February snow and March motoring troubles did their best to prevent us from meeting... we were determined to give the writers fair play, and come together to try and find out what everyone thought.”
She said Raphael’s (Rhiannon’s nom-de-plume) an “original, highquality, original novel”.
“All in all, the story slips skilfully into the voice of an unreliable narrator. Few Welsh novels bring the culture of another country to life, but here the Welsh language is totally natural within the German world.
“The Welsh and the Welsh language are tragic neighbours in a
Welsh novel that is more German than Welsh.
“Readers will find hours of pleasure exploring the depths of meaning of all types of elements including the characters’ names and their work,” she said.
The adjudicators said after the first reading of the entrants Ingrid was in the first class by all three.
“After further reading we were unanimous that Raphael would receive the Medal this year. This is the best,” said Alun Cob.
Rhiannon Ifans grew up on a farm near Brynsiencyn and was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and Aberystwyth University studying Welsh language and literature.
She now specialises in the fields of folk studies and medieval literature.
In 1980 she published with her husband, Dafydd, an update of the Mabinogion legends; and earlier this year published Red Hearts and Roses? Welsh Valentine Songs and Poems.
She has written children’s books and worked as a freelance editor.
In 2000 she won the Tir na n-Og Award in 2000 for her volume Chwedlau o’r Gwledydd Celtaidd and in 2003 for her book about St David.
After the couple’s three sons grew older she returned to university, working first on the Poets of the Princes and then on the Poets of the Nobility.
She then spent 12 years as a Tucker Fellow at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
The ceremony in the main pavilion featured, for the first time, a trio of triple harpists.
Archdruid Myrddin ap Dafydd said it was apt to have the instruments played at Llanrwst a town known for the manufacture of the triple harp.