This selection of fiction marks the centenary of Rhys Davies' birth and includes some of his best work.

Dark, witty, and acutely observed, these finely-crafted stories put small-town life under the microscope. In his unique and memorable style, Davies examines the strange games that people play. He paints vivid portraits of the human condition.

‘A Welsh Chekhov’

Sunday Times

‘Rhys Davies is a first-class writer and every short story... a novel in itself.’ John Betjeman, The Daily Telegraph

‘Gently wrapped, these stylish perceptive tales have centres as hard as steel, and are all the better for it.’ The Guardian

‘Rhys Davies' characters all walk straight out of the page and hold one with an almost physical attraction.’ The Times

Rhys Davies grew up in the Rhondda. A prolific writer, he produced novels, plays, essays and an auto-biography, but it is through his work in the short story that he forged an outstanding reputation as a writer of skill and originality.