The Writers of Wales Database

PARSONS, HUW

43 The Struet, Brecon, Powys LD3 7LW
Email: peevishbeebooks@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.peevishbeebooks.co.uk  

Huw Parsons born in 1954 and grew up in Llyswen, a village some ten miles or so west of Hay on Wye. He was educated at Brecon Boys’ Grammar School and Chelsea College of Art. He has worked as a painter, filmmaker, lecturer, antique dealer, watch repairer and more recently as an author and photographer.

In many ways Huw is neither ‘fish nor fowl.’ As a border person he thinks of himself as being neither wholly English nor particularly Welsh and because of his life’s diversity has become a social impostor and a cultural chameleon. As for writing, he believes that he has no particular gift, except for having a dogged determination, combined with being observant, having a good ear and an ability to write in simple, descriptive English. His literary influences include the poems of John Betjaman and Phillip Larkin, the novels of Leslie Thomas and the song lyrics of Sting and Jake Thackray.

Huw's earlier work has been published in Country Quest, Ninnau (An American newspaper for Welsh expatriates), Artists & Illustrators, The Bulletin (An English language magazine for Brussels) and The Artist. He has recently self-published a collection of poetry entitled The Little Book of Awful Bad Poetry (Peevish Bee Books, 2010). Click here to read a sample poem. Huw is currently working on two titles, Herefordshire and Miscellany. Please click on the links to read extracts. Future works include English Journey, a contemporary travelogue.

Huw has also run a poetry project, based in Brecon, which aimed to liven up boarded up buildings. He chose works by both local and further afield poets that would have popular appeal and which were life enhancing, spiritually uplifting, provocative and funny. The project then developed through the town library and the 2010 Brecon Fringe Festival. Click here to view photographs from the project.

Reviews:
With respect to A Brecon Revealed (Peevish Bee Books, 2008)

"…Huw has an intimate knowledge and love/hate relationship with Brecon and small town living. This book is a kind of photographic Under Milk Wood for the twenty first century. It will have important repercussions for many years to come…"
Dr Phil Clark, Theatre Director

"…A Brecon Revealed’ really is a definitive insight into the town and what makes it tick!…"
Cathey Morgan, Education & Outreach Officer, ‘Theatr Brycheiniog’


With respect to Planet Hay (Peevish Bee Books, 2009)

"…A handsome publication, great photos and nicely written!…"
Sir Arnold Wesker, Playwright, Poet & Author

"…The book is a work of art, a labour of love that encapsulates the spirit of the place and the unique personality of the town, seen through the eyes of the people best placed to comment upon its richness and diversity. Very highly recommended…"
Peter Wooldridge, Shropshire Review

"…I am enjoying your fabulous book very much. It is wonderfully evocative of everything I love about Hay, very attractively produced, has stunning photos and I see friends names in there as well! I shall treasure it..."
Barbara Erskine


With respect to Brecon Fringe (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)

"...Huw’s new book works on several levels...Huw also strives for a degree of profoundness in the form of quotations associated with music, happiness and creative freedom...All in all, Huw’s love for his hometown, of spectacle and of grass roots culture shines through on every page..."
Nigel Evans, Arts Correspondent, Brecon & Radnor Express


Selected Publications:
A Brecon Revealed (Peevish Bee Books, 2008)
Planet Hay (Peevish Bee Books, 2009)
Brecon Fringe (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)
The Little Book of Awful Bad Poetry (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)
Parisienne (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)
Being Welsh (Peevish Bee Books, 2012)

Contributed to:
A Better Class of Doggerel by Jan Price (editor) (Peevish Bee Books, 2008)


A Brecon Revealed (Peevish Bee Books, 2008)

A Brecon Revealed is a two hundred and twenty page A4 size softback book about Huw’s hometown, generously illustrated with his colour photographs. Essentially it is an intimate ad hoc collection of essays laid out month by month, about the people Huw met, the places he visited and some of the events he attended during the course of the book’s production. In no way is it meant to be a definitive overall view of Brecon and perhaps this is its strength, being seen from one person’s rather quirky perspective. It has been very popular with almost a thousand copies sold within two years of its publication.

To purchase this title, please email peevishbeebooks@yahoo.co.uk



Planet Hay (Peevish Bee Books, 2009)

Planet Hay is a two hundred and twenty page A4 size softback book about Hay on Wye, illustrated with archive photographs and Huw’s colour photos and pencil drawings. Like A Brecon Revealed it is an ad hoc collection of essays, but laid out alphabetically – ‘Almshouses,’ ‘Archive,’ ‘Boatside,’ ‘Books’ etc. It has been a popular book with almost seven hundred copies sold within eighteen months of its publication.

To purchase this title, please email peevishbeebooks@yahoo.co.uk



Brecon Fringe (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)

Brecon Fringe is a hundred and twenty page A4 size book about an annual festival, which for three days in August completely transforms Huw’s home town. The book comes in softback and hardback editions and is full of fabulous colour photographs. It is in four sections – ‘Vintage Fringe’ looks at the history of the event since the first festival in 1984. This is followed by the bulk of the book, which features the 2009 festival, then we have an illustrated essay about the town during the rest of the year, to conclude with a postscript about a Digby Fairweather concert held in the Cathedral in aid of The George Melly Sculpture Appeal. Five hundred copies were printed and most were sold at the launch party in May and the festival itself in 2010.

To purchase this title, please email peevishbeebooks@yahoo.co.uk

The Little Book of Awful Bad Poetry (Peevish Bee Books, 2010)

The Little Book of Awful Bad Poetry is a collection of ten of Huw’s poems. Here is a poet who means what he says and says what he means. Some, like ‘Magpies’ are humorous, others such as ‘Lost Without You’ are romantic – all are passionate and read more like song lyrics than poems. The book was published in September 2010 and is selling like the proverbial hot cakes.

To purchase this title, please email peevishbeebooks@yahoo.co.uk