Margaret Wynne of Gwydir is remembered as ‘an angry woman’ but after reading and research author Haf Llewelyn has claimed that Margaret was ‘misunderstood completley’. Her story has been reimagined and written anew in a brand new novel published this week.

‘Y Traeth’ , which translates as ‘The Beach’, by Haf Llewelyn is set in Meirionydd during the 17 ^th century and follows the lives of some of the gentry families of the period. It follows the story of Margaret Cave who marries the nobleman Sion Wynne of Gwydir when she was still a child. Although Margaret tries to persuade herself that she belongs, she suffers the contempt of her family in law, experiences bouts of depression and longs for her little girl and husband who spends time in far away London.

When Begw comes to work as her handmaiden, a close relationship develops between her and Margaret, and Begw comes to feel that she has no choice but to stay with her mistress through it all.

‘This is mainly a story of friendship and loyalty – particularly the handmaiden Begw’s loyalty towards her mistress, Margraet,’ explained Haf Llewelyn. ‘Begw did not choose to be poor. Margaret did not choose to be rich. But what is important is the choices the two make during the novel.’

Rewriting Margaret’s story was like ‘making up for the abuse she suffered during her life’.

‘She was clearly a very lonely woman and had to bend to the society of the time. Because she could not bear an heir, she was discredited and insulted by this powerful family,’ says Haf. ‘I took to her at once. As I read more about her I began to feel closer to her. I wanted the best for her. So I decided to write another story around her.’

The beach is also a central part to the novel.

‘Many of the characters feel drawn towards the beach. It is an embodiement of an attachment to somewhere. Like the characters of the novel know the sea and the beach, I’m sure many of us feel an attachment to familiar places or some feeling of belonging.’

The events of Y Traeth happen in the same place as Haf’s other novel, Mab y Cychwr , and some characters from that novel make an appearance. But Haf stresses that Y Traeth is not a sequel.

‘You do not need to read Mab y Cychwr to read this novel,’ she says. ‘Perhaps the reapperance of some old characters is a sign of my attachment towards the world I have created!’

Haf Llewelyn grew up on a mountainous farm in Ardudwy but has lived in Llanuwchllyn for over thirty years. This is her third novel for adults, following Y Graig and Mab y Cychwr , and she has published many novels and books for children, including Diffodd y Sêr , a novel told from the perspective of the younger sister of poet Hedd Wyn, a book which won her the Tir na n-Og prize in 2014.

‘You do not need to know the history of the period or the story of the Wynne family of Gwydir to read the novel,’ added Haf. ‘The period is simply the background for the story. Not much differentiates today and yesterday in the sense that the characters would make the same decisions they make in 1612 as they would today.’

‘This is a story about friendship and human nature. And those themes are timeless.’

Y Traeth by Haf Llewelyn (£8.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

A discussion of Y Traeth and Sian Northey’s new novel, Rhyd-y-Gro, (Gwasg Gomer) will take place at Y Fedwen Lyfrau in Galeri Caernarfon at 10 in the morning ond Saturday the 23 ^rd of April.

On Wednesday the 27 ^th of April at 7.30 pm at the Eagles Hotel in Llanuwchllyn there will be a special launch to celebrate the publishing of Y Traeth and new volume by Beryl H Griffiths, Mamwlad, by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch.