Collects writings from Welsh authors about the Christmas holiday.

This book was developed following the first exhibition of a series of paintings of the Stations of the Cross by the artist Nigel Robert Pugh. The paintings have been variously described by viewers thus: "The Stations spoke to me, not just as an expression of the story of the Passion, but for raw beauty and the profound emotion raised. Beautiful work." "Very moving, brilliantly beautiful depiction of the crucifixion." "Inspirational - Stations of the Cross I found profound and moving." "Most moving and best Stations of the Cross I've seen." The paintings have since been exhibited throughout the UK and have been used for reflection and devotions during Lent and Easter prompting this moving response from one parish priest: "Many of my congregation have told me that this has been one of the best Easter's they have experienced for a long time and that has largely been because of your paintings. The week of reflections based around the pictures plus their use in the Holy week services have enabled my congregation to approach Easter on a different level and it has been a very profound time for many people" The book is intended to serve as a devotional aid, a quiet reflection, and to help the faithful make in their hearts a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's suffering and death. Each painting is accompanied by a verse of Scripture and a brief Reflection. The book also contains notes on the paintings which give an insight into the interpretive approach taken by the artist. "Religious painting seems to be deeply unfashionable in our post-modern, post-Christian world - which is curious given that the efficient brutality of the Crucifixion and the events leading up to it distil into a single devastating 'image' the relentless reign of force that blights so much life in so much of our present world. Today, two thousand years after the event, the metaphorical crucifixions still take place daily, the fear is manifest, the innocent are accused, judged and tortured, the politicians prevaricate, the crowd howls for more, the armies follow orders, the slaughter begins - The message of bravery, hope and love in The Passion and Crucifixion seem to me to have never been more relevant." (extract from the Notes)

From the epic mythologies of the Mabinogion through to the present day, birds have exerted a powerful influence on the literature of Wales. This unique anthology gathers together a remarkable range of poetry and prose, illustrating the the varied and multi-layered response of writers across many centuries. Birds are metaphors, cyphers for human experience; they carry our hopes, ambitions and emotions. Our lives and those of birds are intimately connected, yet birds also remain 'other'. Fragile yet marvellously enduring; majestic killing machines; birds are the spark for powerful writing: a cause of wonder, reverence and joyous celebration. This book is a must for poetry readers, nature lovers and true 'twitchers' alike. Includes R.S. Thomas, Dylan Thomas, William Condry, Gillian Clarke, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Tony Curtis, John Davies, Emyr Humphreys, Gwyn Jones, Jean Earle, Gwyneth Lewis, W.H. Davies, Francis Kilvert, Idris Davies, Christopher Meredith, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Sheenagh Pugh and Leslie Norris.