Angharad Tomos’ novel about Castell Penrhyn (Penrhyn Castle) in Bangor and its links with slavery has been shortlisted for a prestigious literary award.
The Tir na n-Og Awards are annual children’s literary awards in Wales that have been awarded since 1976. They are presented by the Books Council of Wales to the best books published during the preceding calendar year.
The awards are named for Tír na nÓg, the “Land of the Young”, an otherworldly realm in Irish mythology.
Y Castell Siwgwr (The Sugar Castle) by Angharad Tomos, a Welsh author and prominent language activist, has reached the shortlist. Angharad was born in Bangor in 1958, and now resides in Penygroes. She graduated from Bangor University and went on to receive an MA.
The story in Y Castell Siwgwr takes us to Castell Penrhyn and to the plantations of Jamaica, as we follow the lives of two young girls, Dorcas and Eboni.
The novel has been described as “a tortuous historical novel.”
Angharad Tomos said: “The idea behind the novel was seeing an exhibition in Castell Penrhyn a few years ago, that discussed the castle’s links with slavery.
“It was a very poignant exhibition, and I left feeling that I’d like to convey the history in a novel.”
Angharad Tomos claims that this was the “most difficult” novel she’s ever written.
“It’s one of the most difficult books that I’ve written.
“Partly because these harrowing experiences didn’t come from my imagination, but rather from stories of real slaves.”
The distinguished author has won the prize twice before, as well as winning the esteemed Prose Medal at the Eisteddfod twice.
She added: “I feared that it wouldn’t be as relevant as a 200 year old story, but after the murder of George Floyd, it became desperately relevant.
“I don’t think I would have finished writting Y Castell Siwgwr had it not been for the lockdown.
“Hopefully the novel will raise people’s awareness of racism.”
