SOURCE: “Taffy at Home: The Humour and Pathos of Welsh Village Life,” in Caradoc Evans, edited by T. L. Williams, University of Wales Press, 1970, pp. 29–99.

In the following excerpt, Williams offers an extensive study of Evans's work—including the text of an early story in its entirety—and examines aspects of his psychohistory.

Caradoc quite possibly gained great psychological relief from the publication of My People, but thenceforth he had the mark of Cain upon him, and however much he might protest his love for Wales (and nothing better illustrates the “love” half of his relationship with Wales than his regular “sermon-tasting” at New Cross chapel—here, if anywhere, was the compulsive attraction towards the thing rejected), he would never again be trusted. Rather than attempt to make amends, therefore, he was almost compelled to produce more of the same.

Thus Caradoc's recantation was made with My People...