178:. According to the academic Sam Adams, Archard's twin initial aims were to encourage Welsh poets writing in the English language, particularly the younger generation; and to republish out-of-print works and thus make more sources available for teaching Welsh literature in English. The first collections from the press were by
198:. Since its foundation, the press has branched into literary fiction, biography and non-fiction. In 2011, Seren published 20–25 titles annually. Archard retired as manager in 1996; the press has subsequently been run by Felton. The board of directors has included Abse (from 1989) and the academic
401:
and
Cinnamon Press, as "among the foremost publishers of English-language writing in Wales". According to Sheppard, Seren and Parthian are "illuminating Welsh writing in English's past and creating links with the Welsh language tradition in order to claim anglophone literature as part of Wales's
539:
Robert
Llewellyn Jones (7 December 2011). How 'maverick' Seren's getting ready for the next chapter in the story of publishing; TheBIGInterview Publishing house Seren continues to sparkle 30 years after its creation, as Robert Llewellyn Jones discovers."
425:
said in an interview published in 1997 that "Seren's books look good, and their list is good. Some of it could improve, but that's part of the process"; he criticised the press's marketing for failing to get its books into bookshops.
189:
In 1982, Poetry Wales Press received a block grant from the Arts
Council of Wales, the first of its kind, which enabled it to set up an office in Bridgend and to appoint a full-time manager, Mick Felton. The grant later came from the
194:; it was reassessed annually. In 1985, the press adopted the Seren imprint for works that were not poetry, and from 1989 the Seren imprint has been used for all publications. In 1986, an independent editor was appointed to oversee
406:
describes Seren on its thirtieth anniversary in 2011 as a "vital element of the Welsh literary scene" and considers it to have contributed to the strength of
English-language writing in Wales. The Welsh poet
670:
Jenny White (3 April 2021). An online celebration of poetry; The Seren
Cardiff Poetry Festival takes place online this year, has more to offer than ever and is mostly free to attend, writes Jenny White...
136:
writing from Wales and also publishing other literary fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Seren's aim is to bring Welsh literature and culture to a wider audience. The press takes its name from the
513:
Felicity Wood (23 August 2013). Rhyme and reason: The poetry market is a notoriously difficult one, but
Felicity Wood meets some independent presses that are bucking the trend.
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186:, together with a retrospective collection featuring Abse. Literary criticism was also part of its output from the outset.
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describes the press in 2011 as "a sign of national and cultural strength" and "a way of allowing a country a voice".
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and Gwyn Thomas, which were first published by
English publishers. Another project invites authors including
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The press was founded in 1981 by Cary
Archard, a teacher who was then the editor of the quarterly magazine
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Seren has run the Seren
Cardiff Poetry Festival since 2018; the 2021 festival was held online due to
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basis. At first known as Poetry Wales Press, it was published from
Archard's home in
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Mick Felton is currently the fiction and nonfiction editor for the press, and
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Lisa Sheppard. "Literary Periodicals and the Publishing Industry", in
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work as its poetry editor, having replaced editor Amy Wack in 2022.
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Writing on the Edge: Interviews with Writers and Editors of Wales
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417:, who has himself been published by Seren, named the late poet
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Letter: Dannie Abse was a cultural attache for Welsh writers
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The academic Lisa Sheppard describes Seren, together with
648:"We punch above our weight and compete with the big five"
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Seren retains a strong poetry list, which still includes
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753:, eds), p. 596 (Cambridge University Press; 2019)
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as one who disliked Seren's approach. The Welsh poet
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A classics series has republished important works by
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202:(1993–2003). The press remains based in Bridgend.
582:Sam Adams (May/Jun 2006). Seren at Twenty-Five.
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158:collections and gained funding from the
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288:in 2011. Other writers have included
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486:"Welsh publishing house Seren is 30"
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402:literary heritage". The Welsh poet
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444:"Trade Information | Seren Books"
258:The Land as Viewed from the Sea
1:
798:Publishing companies of Wales
808:1981 establishments in Wales
646:Menos, Hilary (2022-10-06).
85:Independent Publishers Group
38:; 43 years ago
16:Welsh independent publisher
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272:won the English-language
170:. An early office was in
689:Retrieved 25 March 2014.
636:Sheppard 2019, pp. 601–2
260:, was shortlisted for a
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708:David T. Lloyd (1997).
284:was longlisted for the
120:is the trading name of
274:Wales Book of the Year
698:Sheppard 2019, p. 602
610:(accessed 5 May 2022)
558:Sheppard 2019, p. 596
282:The Last Hundred Days
252:,. Novelists include
160:Arts Council of Wales
61:Headquarters location
342:Christopher Meredith
280:, whose debut novel
256:, whose debut work,
346:Francesca Rhydderch
276:award in 2007; and
192:Welsh Books Council
75:Welsh Books Council
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732:Lloyd 1997, p. 119
600:(7 October 2014).
379:, Lloyd Jones and
278:Patrick McGuinness
224:Authors and series
162:, initially on an
132:, specialising in
122:Poetry Wales Press
492:. 15 October 2011
389:in new settings.
218:COVID-19 pandemic
140:word for "star".
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51:Country of origin
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377:Fflur Dafydd
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354:R. S. Thomas
330:Mike Jenkins
294:Ruth Bidgood
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174:'s house in
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71:Distribution
598:Tony Curtis
588:32 (5): 6–8
496:25 November
490:WalesOnline
423:Tony Curtis
415:Peter Finch
409:Owen Sheers
404:Dannie Abse
365:Rhys Davies
318:Paul Groves
302:Dic Edwards
298:Tony Curtis
290:Ivy Alvarez
266:Lloyd Jones
250:Owen Sheers
234:Dannie Abse
211:Zoë Brigley
172:Dannie Abse
118:Seren Books
20:Seren Books
792:Categories
657:2023-01-24
517:(5589): 16
449:5 February
430:References
386:Mabinogion
358:John Tripp
334:Alun Lewis
326:Glyn Jones
322:Paul Henry
270:Mr Cassini
107:serenbooks
585:PN Review
393:Reception
264:in 2004;
677:, p. 20.
399:Parthian
338:Gary Ley
168:Bridgend
126:Bridgend
65:Bridgend
740:Sources
144:History
77:(Wales)
41: (
33:Founded
757:
716:
546:, p. 8
248:, and
164:ad hoc
156:poetry
28:Active
25:Status
138:Welsh
130:Wales
96:Books
55:Wales
755:ISBN
714:ISBN
498:2017
451:2018
356:and
209:and
182:and
109:.com
87:(US)
82:(UK)
43:1981
36:1981
763:doi
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45:)
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