John Cledwyn Hughes (1920–1978), who wrote under the name Cledwyn Hughes, was an Anglo-Welsh writer of novels, children's books, and literary-topographical books about Wales. He was also a prolific short-story writer who was published in a wide range of popular and literary magazines including The New Yorker, Argosy and Woman and Home.
The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales cites The Civil Strangers (Phoenix House, 1950) as his most distinguished work and notes the fineness of his topographical writing, and of his writing for children.
Hughes was born at Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Montgomeryshire, and died at Arthog, Merionethshire, where he and his wife Alyna lived from 1947. An archive of his papers is held at the National Library of Wales.
Major works
Novels The Different Drummer and The Inn Closes for Christmas: two novels (Pilot Press, 1947) Wennon (Pilot Press, 1948) The Civil Strangers (Phoenix House, 1950) After the Holiday (Phoenix House, 1950) The House in the Cornfield - semi-autobiographical (Werner Laurie, 1957)
Topographical writing A Wanderer in North Wales (Phoenix House, 1949) The Northern Marches (Robert Hale, 1953) Poaching down the Dee (Robert Hale, 1953) Royal Wales (Phoenix House, 1957) West with the Tinkers (Odham Press, 1951) Portrait of Snowdonia (Robert Hale, 1967) The Batsford Colour Book of Wales (Batsford, 1975)
Children's books Gold and "The Moonspray" (Heinemann, 1953) The King Who Lived on Jelly (Routledge and Kegan Paul,1961)
Other full-length works Leonard Cheshire V. C. (Phoenix House, 1961) Ponies for Children (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1962) Making an Orchard (Land Books, 1961)
International and translated editions He Dared not Look Behind (A A Wyn, 1949) – Title under which 'The Inn Closes for Christmas was published' in USA and Canada La Jambe de Cain (Gallimard, 1963) – French edition of the above The King Who Lived on Jelly (Special Edition, Georgian House, Melbourne, Australia, 1969)
Short stories and broadcast works Over 250 short stories are known to have been published by Cledwyn Hughes. The first recorded published story being in 1943 ('Their Secret Sorrows'Weekly Telegraph, [Month?], 1943 in the Weekly Telegraph). The manuscripts of the majority of stories are available to researchers in the National Library of Wales archives.
Stories published 1943-1949 The ConfessionSelected Writing, No. 3, Nicholson and Watson 1946The HousekeeperStories for All Moods, Pendulum PublicationsThe NecessityMoore (ed.), Modern Reading 11-12, Wells Gardner, Darton, 1945 The UnqualifiedAistrop & Moore (eds.), Bugle Blast: A Third Anthology From the Services, Allen & Unwin, 1945 Open up Them Pearly GatesTattooThe BasketBBC Midland/Welsh Home Service, 20 Dec 1946 The Fifteen Shilling MarvelArgosy, Nov 1946, The Heart of Mr ThomasOur Time, DecemberThe HedghogVaughan (ed.), Celtic Story, Pendulum, 1946 The MiracleLife and Letters, March 1946A Well Sung CarolJohn Bull Magazine, Christmas Issue, 1947Geekie's First ChristmasBBC Children's Hour, 21 December 1947, all regionsLife After DeathCronos' [?] Ohio State University ReviewLove Lit with ParaffinJohn Bull Magazine, March? 1947Pritchard's BeesWyatt (ed.), English Story 7th Series, Collins, 1947 Reece the PolesJohn Bull Magazine, 15 November 1947The Man who once Grew Christmas TreesHarper's Bazaar Xmas Issue 1947The Stepping StonesVirginian Quarterly Review, June 1947A Bucketful of RosesArgosy, Oct 1948An Armful of WaspsJohn Bull Magazine, 26 June 1948Cras and his Lucky ChristmasLilliput Magazine, December 1948Geekie's Wonderful ChristmasBBC Children's Hour, Welsh Home Service, 16 December 1948How Shone the Tinker RetiredJohn Bull Magazine, 16 October 1948Mr Pugh's MarmaladeWoman's Magazine, April 1949None so BlindJohn Bull Magazine, 26 March 1948Poaching the Ungodly WayStrand Magazine, accepted September 1947, Published April 1948Preece and his DutyJohn Bull Magazine, 17 June 1948Salty JonesBBC Midland Region, 26 November 1948The Best Dressed HorseArgosy, April 1948The Bright GentlemanJohn Bull Magazine, 4 September 1948The Christmas AcceptanceWeldons Ladies Journal, December 1948The CircusJohn Bull Magazine, 21 Feb 1948The Leaf which Never DiedBBC Children's Hour, 14 April 1949The Little BishopArgosy, Aug 1948 The New ShearerJohn Bull Magazine, 17 April 1948The PoachersThe Strand, 115(688), April 1948The Remarkable CiderJohn Bull Magazine, 16 December 1948The Saint's WellJohn Bull Magazine, 7 August 1948The Tomato PlantJohn Bull Magazine, 3 February 1949Thomas at the FairJohn Bull Magazine, 18 November 1948Miss ReesA Little RehearsalJohn Bull Magazine, 15 April 1950A Night Among the RosesJohn Bull Magazine, 10 November 1949A Tin Whistle at ChristmasJohn Bull Magazine, 23 December 1949A Windmill and Twelve Cherry TreesBlack MaggieArgosy, Dec 1949 Counting his SundaysWeldons Ladies Journal, July 1949Geekie and the Cuckoo ClockWoman's Illustrated, [dates?] 1949Geekie, Father Christmas, and the Remarkable SnowmanWoman's Illustrated, 24 December 1949Grower of lavender and professor of magicEnglish Story' edited by Woodrow Wyatt, London, CollinsThe Black HorsePudney (ed.), The Pick of Today's Short Stories, Odhams, n.d. The CarnivalJohn Bull Magazine, 9 September 1949The Christmas MattressSketch, 21 December 1949The Curious Captain of the Golden RhubarbBBC Special Children's story for Xmas morning, The Extraordinary Mr AmbroseJohn Bull Magazine, 30 June 1949The VisitationArgosy, Jan 1949 Women from Distant PlacesJohn Bull Magazine, 4 June 1949
Stories published 1950-1959 A First MarvelWeldons (accepted 11 September 1950]Five Good Dogs with Cold NosesHome MagazineHow Geekie Became a Chimney SweepWeldons, May 1955Jenkins One EyeJohn Bull Magazine, 21 January 1950Miss Pugh and the BishopLilliput Magazine, February 1951The Atishoo Symphony OrchestraWoman's Illustrated, [accepted 8 September 1950]The Lamb with the Tongue of GoldWoman's Illustrated, March 1956The Return of MeriJohn Bull Magazine, 1 November 1950The Seller of Sunshine and Controller of RainbowsHome Journal, February 1956The Two MusiciansJohn Bull Magazine, 9 September 1950Towzer's ToothacheWoman's IllustratedAll Tomorrow's FlowersArgosyEmma and the Strong ManJohn Bull Magazine, Summer Pie, 12 June 1952Geekie and the Firework FactoryWoman's Illustrated, [published 1956?]Samuel Pugh's BullfightLilliput Magazine, May 1951The DancePudney (ed.), The Pick of Today's Short Stories 3rdSeries, Odhams n.d. Moses and the PolicemanJohn Bull Magazine, 15 November 1952The Old Fashioned FarmGood Housekeeping, November 1953The Ploughing MatchJohn Bull Magazine, 9 May 1953A Wheel for a QueenJohn Bull Magazine 22 April 1953An Umbrella from the SeaJohn Bull Magazine 10 June 1953The Last ThatcherJohn Bull Magazine, 28 October 1953The Almond TumblersWoman's journal, August 1956The Corn HarvestJohn Bull Magazine, 25 August 1954The First SnowWoman, 26 February 1955The girl who wanted to danceBrittania and Eve Magazine, October 1954The Gramophone with the Green HornPudney (ed.), The Pick of Today's Short Stories 5, Putnam, 1954 The Great Ash of Glas CoedArgosy, June 1954 The Master of the Golden GameJohn Bull Magazine, 5 May 1954The Venerable Dog EventWoman's Journal, August 1957The White PonyJohn Bull Magazine, 10 February 1954Time to Visit the WorldWeldons Ladies Journal, February 1954How Geekie Saved Maurice the MoleWoman and Home, September 1955The Eternal GoddessBBC Welsh Home Service, Tuesday 3, September 1957The Young and the Old VictoriasJohn Bull Magazine, 12 November 1955A Maythorn for a MonumentBrittania and Eve Magazine, February 1956A Yellow RibbonJohn Bull MagazineThe Skipper's WifeJohn Bull Magazine, 11 April 1956A Relic of the WarEvening Standard, 27 November 1957Champion at the Golden EagleJohn Bull Magazine, 10 August 1957The Mountain MainLilliput Magazine, November 1957The Singing Football MatchJohn Bull Magazine, 19 January 1957A Final DangerArgosy/Woman's Journal [author's own query], A Punch on the Nose for LondonEvening Standard, 5 November 1958The Cockle GathererArgosy, Sept 1958 The Perfect CanaryJohn Bull Magazine, 1 March 1958A Song Before WinterBBC Home Service, London, 18 November 1959, 10.30 pmOnly a Green ShutterHome (Fleetway Publications), Month? 1959The Stock Car RaceGood Housekeeping, January 1961The Strong RoomSuspense, October 1959The Sugar EnchantressHomes and Gardens
Stories published 1960-1973 Johnny's MiracleBBC, Morning Story, Wales Region, 26 February 1960A Dance on the LawnSaturday Evening Post, June 1961?Jericho and the Jumble SaleWoman's Journal, June 1961The White StrangerThe Evening News, 27 July 1961A Journey for a Fragment of SnowOur Miss JulietHousewife or Woman's Realm, September 1963The Answer is not the echoJust a few BeesModern Caravan, June, 1964An Emotion of the SeaHomes and Gardens, October 1965Jazz PonyHomes and Gardens, October 1964Mary will Answer the PuppetWoman's Day, USA, December 1964The Coming of the HoneyHomes and Gardens, August 1966The Green Eye in the WindowHomes and Gardens, August 1965The Pony with the Strong VoiceWoman's Realm, 20 March 1965A Day by the OceanParents' Magazine, February, 1965A Talent for DevotionWoman's Realm, 18 October 1965An Occasion for MusicShe Magazine, December 1965A Remembrance of Innocent DaysWoman's Mirror, accepted 2 August 1966A Sort of Weather from the Seasons of LoveWoman's Realm, 30 September 1967A Little White Powder, as Important as Life ItselfMen Only, May 1967Longing for the Glorious YearsArgosy, June 1967 Taking a Bird on HoneymoonArgosy, Oct 1967There's a Cow OutsideHomes and Gardens, August, 1967A Universe of Roses and Dreams? Accepted 23 November 1968The Gentle Harpist [?] Weekend, 13 August 1969The Old Strollers' Carol PartyArgosy, Jan 1969 The Race for the White RoseArgosy, May 1973 The Yard Man Argosy, March 1973Crying Off and On for a FortnightRostrum, November/December 1972A Handful of LeavesRostrum, March 1973When the World is CallingAnglo-Welsh Review, Spring (May), 1975Night of the Summer StormArgosy, Aug 1973
Broadcast works
"Charles Macintosh"BBC Children's Hour, Scotland. 24 July 1943 - BBC Children's Hour "The Basket"BBC Midlands/Wales, 10.30 pm 20 December 1946- BBC Midlands/Wales "The Black Horse" - BBC French Service27th Sept, 1946 and repeated 15 March 1950 "Watkins and the Fairies", - BBC Children's HourFriday 27 August 1947 "Geekie's First Christmas" - BBC Children's HourSunday 21 December 1947 "Geekie's Wonderful Christmas" - BBC Children's HourWelsh Home Service, 16 December 1948 "Pritchard's Bees" - BBC, The Wednesday Story31 March 1948 "Salty Jones" - BBC Midland Home Service and internationally22 November 1948; BBC Arabian Service, 16 March 1949; BBC Arabic Listener, 1 June 1949, BBC Light Programme, Mid-morning story, 21 September 1949 "The Leaf which Never Died" - BBC Children's Hour14 April 1949 "Grower of Lavender and Professor of Magic" - BBC Norwegian Service10 October 1949 "The Curious Captain of the Golden Rhubarb" - BBC Children's Xmas Morning story11am 25 December 1949 read by Norman Shelley) "November Day" - Welsh Home ServiceMonday 8 November 1954 "The Church by the Sea" with Donald Huston - BBC Home Service, WelshMon 24 Dec 1956, 19:30 on BBC Home Service Welsh "Seasons in Powys" - BBC Home Service Welsh22 Jan 1957, 22:15 "Spring Comes to Wales" with Donald Huston - BBC Home ServiceBBC Home Service, Welsh, Friday 1 March 1957 "The Eternal Goddess" - BBC Welsh Home Service BBC Welsh Home Service, Tuesday 3, September 1957 "Winter Estuary" - BBC Welsh Home Service BBC Welsh Home Service, Monday 5 January 1959 "The Lamb with the Tongue of Gold" - BBC Children's Hour BBC Children's Hour - Wales Region, 22 January 1959, 5.20-5.30 pm "The Gramophone with the Green Horn: A story of the open road" and - BBC Saturday Matinee BBC Saturday Matinee, 10 January 1959