Alys Conran’s acclaimed, Dylan Thomas Prize-shortlisted debut novel, now republished in a brand-new edition to coincide with the stage dramatisation by
Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and Theatr Iolo.
Winner of the Wales Book of the Year 2017
Shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize 2017
‘An exquisite novel by a great new talent.’
M.J. Hyland
‘…might have been authored by Faulkner… pitch-perfect.’
Omar Sabbagh, New Welsh Review
‘A coming of age novel that turns into something of a murder mystery, Pigeon is written in a deceptively simple, thoroughly engaging style.’
Bill Rees, Wales Arts Review
Iola and Pijin make up stories to test each other, stories of daring and adventure, of bad people and of Gwyn who drives his ice-cream up the hill to their town every week. Gwyn is a dangerous man and Pijin knows it. Iola is not so sure. As they grow up and their friendship grows more complicated, some of their stories fall silent, but some will come true.
Pigeon is a journey through the uneasy half-forgotten memories of childhood, a story about wishful-thinking and the power of language.
Alys Conran's fiction, poetry, and translations have been placed in several competitions, including The Bristol Short Story Prize and The Manchester Fiction Prize. Having previously studied Literature at Edinburgh, she completed her MA in Creative Writing at Manchester. She also ran projects to increase access to creative writing and reading among traditionally excluded groups in North Wales. She was recently awarded a scholarship to write a second novel.