Nothing to Pay

by Caradoc Evans

'The only things that bring ineffable contentment are those for which there is nothing to pay; all others breed regrets' So runs the philosophy of Amos Morgan, budding Welsh draper and prince of misers at the turn of the century- snipping and scrimping his way inexorably eastwards from a Nonconformist pocket of Cardiganshire to the dusty counters of Kentish Town. It was a career ladder dominated by petty rules and punitive fines, ascended only by the endurance of affrontry. Others 'I'd like to be an actor', 'I'd like to be a jockey... anything but a bloomin' draper.' But not so Amos, who deals out his flannelettes with reverent servility - and counts his pennies with religious zeal. Even his choice of wife is made out of consideration for thrift, there being nothing to pay for the hard labour of one such as Sara Owen. Amos and Sara are wed on a Sunday - trade being slack on that day. Caradoc Evans scandalized his countrymen with what H. G. Wells commended as the 'brutal thoroughness' of his realism and satire. He captured the Welsh as Flann O'Brien did the Irish - with an uncanny ear for dialect, fierce wit and a vigorous originality. 'For page after page Mr Evans holds you, as the Ancient Mariner held the Wedding Guest' Punch 'He knew more about the Welsh than they did themselves and his savage satire enters the Welsh mind successfully and completely' Spectator

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1930

About the author

David Caradoc Evans was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer, and playwright who wrote in English. He was married to writer Oliver Sandys.

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always nice when you find a book that uses not exactly dialect but a blend of particular phrasing and well-timed accent to create a believable regional voice. Much of the characterization here could have fallen out of the sordid side of Dickens (as opposed to the ludicrously idealistic and angelic moral side), although it's set later, at the turn of the 20th century, and in Wales besides. The time period is interesting; we're set at the crest between the uneducated superstition of early rural Britain and the disease, machinery and filth of the modern day. Bensha Wedding Singer--great-grandfather and clear mental progenitor of the main character, Amos Morgan--not only steals land and builds his house illegally, while shooting and maiming the sole witness to his action, but is the only man brave enough to stay in the streets during the visitation of the serpent. Amos, three generations later, spends his days oilily selling clothes and fabrics, scheming to acquire and acquire, paying lip service to the church while taking a base line toward everything and everyone in his obsession for selfish, squalid, unspent riches. The very baseness of his character, as formed by his family and society, is the point of the book. It certainly makes you happy not to live either there or then.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard novel, biting portrait on a society. An important book and a good read

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an interesting work - parts lyrical exploration of rendering Welsh language in English, with a folkloric opening. The meat of the matter is the tale of a ridiculous miser, his miser-father, and miser-lover, all reaching ever higher levels of self-deception, hypocrisy, and meanness.

There are at least four laugh-out-loud moments of pure nasty behavior. Quite a bit of violence, too. I hadn’t expected to enjoy it quite as much as I did through the difficulties of the language. And to think I picked it up because I liked the title and cover photo!