The Great Master of Ecstasy

Representing more than a decade of work, this stunning, thoughtful, and vivid collection of stories delves into the deepest recesses of the mind and family memory, questioning just how well people know themselves and those closest to them. Exploring the natural and spirit world amidst narratives of ghosts, premonitions, and mental trauma, this potentially terrifying anthology also weaves a thread of resilient humanity and fulfillment, portraying characters coming to terms with their past. The title story uncovers the strange childhood of a murdered "urban shaman," slowly revealing the complicated relationships to family, friends, and the past that surrounded this apparently untroubled "wise man." Deeply interwoven with the folklore of Wales, this compendium celebrates its sacred places, mysticism, language, art, and identity.

Glenda Beagan is the author of Changes and Dreams, The Medlar Tree, and Vixen.