The Vagabond's Breakfast has won the prize for creative Non-fiction, in the Wales Book of the Year 2012 Awards. "Takes us through a Madame Tussauds thronged with addicts, misfits, lovers, all the extreme people who may (or may not) have been part of [Gwyns] past." Lloyd Jones, New Welsh Review "Blakes 'Proverbs of Heaven and Hell' tells us that the road of excess leads to the gates of the palace of wisdom. He doesnt mention the damage - self-inflicted or random - along the way. Richard Gwyns memoir his own down-and-out vagabondage around the Mediterranean rectifies these lacunae and takes us on a terrifying, funny, and erudite journey through alcoholism, insomnia, and liver disease to a redemptive and self-accepting wisdom. Its one hell of a good read."Des BarryDovegreyreader April Reads selection, 1/4/11 "Gorgeously written, funny and shocking. I loved it!" @Eleanor Conway "After The Vagabond's Breakfast , Welsh writing's not going to be the same.

More strength to Gwyn, the ultimate winner." Peter Finch, Western Mail.