VISITORS to Abergavenny Library were spirited away shortly before Christmas by readings from a local author’s latest novel.

Jane Blank joined the team at the library for an evening to celebrate the release of her novel, ‘The Shadow of Nanteos’ with her local readers.

The novel follows the stories of the Powell family of the Nanteos estate in late 18th century Ceredigion, a country house that Jane would often visit in her childhood visits to family in the area.

The novel’s subject matter deals with the family saga of William and Elizabeth Powell who unexpectedly inherit the estate, as they deal with clashes over local lead mining rights, the division between the social classes, and the ghosts and legends that haunt their Mid Walian home.

Dressed in a vintage 1950s Christmas suit, Jane gave readings from ‘Nanteos’ to a large audience that filled the cosy library on Baker Street.

She said, “I’ve tried to do something a bit different with my audience at the library, as around half of them have already read my book.

“It was challenging to not give away too much of the plot to those who hadn’t read it.”

Jane discussed the inspiration and symbology behind the novel, and read from sections of the novel that took place in the winter months.

She said, “In the 18th century the winter was such a dark time, even for the upper classes who could afford to burn a lot of candles.

“I’ve tried to emphasise the darkness of this time, and the different festivals that took place throughout the winter that brought people together.

“Not just Christmas but Noson Galan Gaeaf or All Hallow’s eve, the Boxing Day Squirrel Hunt, and Candlemas in February.”

As well as giving readings from the book, Jane brought a display of the many books she used for research, and pictures that represented the characters in the novel.

She added, “I even brought a portrait of the real William Powell to emphasise that my characters are based on real people.”

Claire Cross at Abergavenny Library said, “We had a lot of fun with Jane for the evening, it was great to entertain a crowd of more than fifty people who filled every seat!

“Everyone enjoyed the talk that Jane gave, and we all shared in glasses of mulled wine with some mince pies and stollen.”

‘The Shadow of Nanteos’ has been steadily growing in popularity since its release earlier this year, with Waterstones making it their Wales Book of the Month for November and BBC Radio Wales praising it during a review.

Jane has a busy calendar year planned for 2016, with talks at book clubs in Abergavenny and Ceredigion planned.

She also plans to return to the local library next May to take part in an event entitled ‘Petticoat Bandits’, investigating the interruptions that the suffragettes caused to the 1913 National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny.

The author and some-time playwright is delighted to be taking part.

She said, “It should be a really interesting event, and I think it will give us the opportunity to relate the struggles of the suffragettes to the human rights abuses that many women in other countries face today due to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.”