Kate Roberts, Writer, In Wales

KATE ROBERTS IN WALES, GB Kate Roberts (1891-1985), one of the most important figures in the literary history of Wales, was born in the quarrying village of Rhosgadfan, Llanwnda, Caernarfonshire. She was a novelist, short story writer and literary journalist. She graduated in Welsh at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, where she studied under Sir John Morris-Jones and Sir Ifor Williams. Subsequently she became a Welsh teacher at Ystalyfera and Aberdare, and in 1928 she married Morris T. Williams with whom she purchased Gwasg Gee which published Baner ac Amserau Cymru. After the death of her husband in 1946, she continued running the business alone for a further ten years. She published a large number of novels and short stories from 1925 until 1937 and again from 1949 until 1981. She was also an active member of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru and contributed regularly to the party's monthly newspaper Y Ddraig Goch. Many of her works reflect the quarry society in which Kate Roberts was brought up. Some of her later work relates to women or old people living alone. She also authored works for and about children. The themes of her published work embraced literature, political and domestic subjects.

I have enjoyed reading her work in the original and in translation. A friend was her minister. Another friend once had tea with her.