The Dark Philosophers

"Thomas Hardy met Damon Runyon over a loving cup of small beer." New York Herald Tribune, 1947; "A Masterpiece, a warm, beautiful, splendid book." Howard Fast Sex, murder, and a devastating, humour mark these three novellas that Gwyn Thomas wrote in 1946. In Oscar, the narrator of death and exploitation fails to fend off the evil that envelops him. In Simeon, the abuse of sexual and family power ends with violent death, and in The Dark Philosophers itself, the grimly humorous philosophers gather in an Italian café to tell the tragic tale of revenge and manslaughter that they engineer. -- Publisher: Parthian Books
Originally published in 1946, yet still as relevant today as it was all those years ago, three of Gwyn Thomas's vivid novellas make up this fascinating volume. Painting a deliciously vibrant picture of the squalid towns of early twentieth century Wales and the quirky folk who inhabited them, a remarkable mixture of compassion, humour, wryness and vitality proliferate his sordid tales of death and greed. From even the very saddest, downtrodden cripple struggling to find a lump of coal to warm his tumbledown dwelling, a ray of hope and defiance against his immoral oppressor offers a warm sense of optimism for the common man. And it is this closeness to general society that makes these compelling stories ever more enjoyable. Admittedly occasionally pandering to slightly over-the-top stereotypes - the oafish, land-owning slob Oscar is almost Dickensian in his unflinching villainy - most of his protagonists nonetheless just seem so real. From the cautiously reflective Lewis, a relatively high powered servant who fights with his conscious in a bid to bring his wicked master to justice, to the cheery café owner Idomeno, Thomas plots his characters so eloquently. While each one of his stories is a cracking read, the real highlight for me is the eponymous tale that follows the plot of revenge and manslaughter as narrated by an Italian café's 'dark philosophers'. Slipping effortlessly into the inclusive first-person-plural voice that was to become his trademark in later years, this style of Thomas's particularly embraced his 'common experience' prose. Inviting the reader into the intriguing chat, it is almost as if one is part of the conspiratorial group, mulling over past experiences. So take a step back to a world that we have left behind, breathe in the sights, smells and sounds, and become one with the community that Thomas has so joyously created. I guarantee you'll enjoy it. -- Jack Clothier @ www.gwales.com