A special event at Llansantffraed Church in Talybont-on-Usk next week will celebrate the life and work of the novelist, playwright and short story writer, Hilda Vaughan.

This year marks the centenary since the publication of her first novel ‘The Battle to the Weak’ and 40 years since her death.

Born in 1892 in Builth Wells, Hilda Vaughan was the daughter of Hugh Vaughan Vaughan (1852-1937), a solicitor, and his wife Eva (née Campbell, 1863-1932).

Hilda Vaughan published 10 novels between 1925 and 1954. Her novels are set wholly or partly in the counties Breconshire and Radnorshire, where she herself had her roots, and also in rural Carmarthenshire and London.

As well as portraying the rural Mid Wales of her childhood, her novels usually focused on female protagonists.

Hilda Vaughan enjoyed critical and commercial success both in Britain and the United States in the interwar period and, after a period of obscurity, there was a revival of interest in her work with the publication of several of her novels by Honno Press as part of the Welsh Women’s Classics series.

“The great thing is that you have a tale to tell and tell it straight. It’s a gift to rejoice in,” wrote her husband, The Times drama critic and fellow novelist, Charles Morgan.

Hilda Vaughan died in 1985 in London.

At next week’s session, Professor Jane Aaron and Professor Diana Wallace from the University of South Wales will be leading a panel discussion which will include selected readings from Hilda Vaughan’s work.

Llansantffraed Church is located on the A40 at the Talybont turn and is where the renowned 17th century poet Henry Vaughan is buried, who incidentally Hilda Vaughan claimed to be descended from.

This free event starts at 3pm on Saturday, June 14 and will be followed by refreshments.