Margiad Evans’ ‘A Ray of Darkness’ prompted another lively discussion among members of the Cardiff neurology book club. Evans was born in England—in childhood ironically living adjacent to, and often venturing into the grounds of the Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy—but later took a Welsh name and residence. She developed epilepsy in mid-life from an inoperable brain tumour, and died in 1958, only 2 years after her diagnosis. The book prompted a discussion around personal experiences and perspectives of living with epilepsy, and developed our understanding of the struggles, emotions and social difficulties associated with the condition.

We recognised and commended Evans’ courage for writing in detail about her epilepsy at all, being among the first to do so at a time of its pervading stigma. Her condition made her better appreciate the good health to which she had previously given …