John Cowper Powys and his brothers, Llewelyn and Theodore were described in a 1936 biographical study as Welsh Ambassadors. Born in 1 872, he spent some time in America, lecturing, returning eventually to Dorchester in 1934 where he started his novel, Maiden Castle. Later that year he moved to Wales (as he put it, from hiraeth) living in 7 Cae Coed, Corwen, where he completed that book in 1936. The romantic historical novel, Owen Glendower was his next big project and he finally completed it in May 1940 and it was published in New York as were most of his works.

An English edition appeared in 1941, but has been out of print for many years. Motivated by a passion for the book and an interest in the historical Owen Glyndwr, Rob Stepney has republished the book under his imprint of Walcot Books.

Owen Glendower is narrated largely through the eyes of Rhisiart ab Owen an historical character, and a cousin of Owen Glyndwr and who comes to join him, but whose arrival in Llangollen as a callow and impressionable young man is quite hair-raising. Powys’s interpretation of the historical events have been criticised but its a wonderful book full of poetic imagery and well worth reading.