Released 29 March 2024 // Short Fiction // 76 pages
‘Mr Bosch and His Owls invites readers into a sphere where the mundane meets the surreal, offering a captivating fusion of magic realism and pastoral charm. Inspired by the enigmatic paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and other artists, this collection transports readers to a world where the ordinary is dramatically interrupted by the extraordinary.
From the tranquil countryside to the bustling city streets, each Kafkaesque adventure unfolds against picturesque landscapes. At the heart of these stories are the owls: mysterious creatures whose presence signals moments of profound change and unsettling encounters for the characters. As the tales interweave, seemingly unrelated individuals find themselves drawn into journeys interconnected by artisan descriptions, uncanny situations, and self-discovery.
This book is sure to leave you peering more closely at owls and art around you.’
– DeAnn Bell, author of Yule Moon (DLG Publishing)
Mr Bosch and His Owls - Cath Barton
Cath Barton’s novella The Plankton Collector was the winner of the New Welsh Writing AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella in 2017 and published by New Welsh Review in 2018. It is due to be republished by Parthian in the autumn of 2024.
Cath has had three further novellas published:
- In the Sweep of the Bay (Louise Walters Books, 2020)
- Between the Virgin and the Sea (Leamington Books, 2023)
- The Geography of the Heart (Arroyo Seco Press, 2023)
Born and brought up in the middle of England, Cath has lived in Abergavenny since 2005. When not writing she loves to walk in the hills with friends. Always up for a challenge and fresh adventure, in October 2024 she plans to walk part of the Camino de Santiago, through Northern Portugal.
The stories in Mr Bosch and His Owls were developed with help from the Literature Wales Mentoring Scheme, funded by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales.