The National Library of Wales - e-Resources Catalogue

Curriculum Cymreig--Welsh Literature

Contents- Welsh literature

Wales Book of the Year 2004

The Book of the Year is an initiative run by Academi, Welsh Books Council and the Arts Council for Wales. The website provides details of the long listed authors and a synopses of their books. Authors in the Welsh language category include T. Robin Chapman, Owen Martell, Elgan Philip Davies, Jason Walford Davies, Sonia Edwards, Jerry Hunter, Geraint Lewis, Iwan Llwyd, Cefin Roberts and Iona Roberts.

Welsh Literature - overview of all periods

The Celtic Info site has a brief overview of the both literatures of Wales through the ages. An introduction to Welsh Literature begins with the old bardic Celtic tradition of Taliesin and Aneirin and ends with the numerous poets and authors of the 20th century. It covers all periods, including Gerald of Wales, Mabinogion, Poetry of the Gentry, The Welsh Bible, and the influence of religion on various periods of Welsh literature. The website also contains the authors' recommendations for further reading.

Another recommended website providing an overview of Celtic life is Celtic Voices. These pages contain an exhibition to give the visitor a sense of the variety of the National Library’s collections on Celtic Languages. The website contains examples of items under ten different themes on with the Celtic languages. It has themes and digitised items relating to Edward Lluyd, Sir John Rhys, the Mabinogion, music, drama, costume and the eisteddfod tradition.

Welsh Literature - through the ages

The Digital Mirror provides access to many of the Treasures held at the National Library of Wales by displaying them on the internet and as a result making them available to all sections of society and the wider world. The Treasures section contains digital access to many of the National Library's collections including manuscripts, archives, maps, photographs and pictures.

Material within the National Library of Wales Treasures website relating to Welsh literature include:

Ynn y llyvyr hwnn- The earliest printed Welsh book, 1546.
Brython (1858-1863), a Welsh language magazine published in Tremadog, Gwynedd
Ann Griffiths (1776-1805)- the famous hymn writer from Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, north Powys
Laws of Hywel Dda (died 950)- Hywel Dda was responsible for the codification of native Welsh law and is one of Wales'greatest historical figures.
Goronwy Owen (1723-1769) a famous eighteenth century poet from the parish of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf, Anglesey.
Iolo Morgannwg (Edward Williams, 1747-1826), from Llancarfan near Cowbridge, and his book he intended to publish- History of the British Bards.
Morgan Llwyd (1619-1659), born in Maentwrog, Gwynedd, one of the most important puritan writers of the Seventeenth Century
William Williams, Pantycelyn is regarded by many as Wales's most important hymn writer. He lived at Cefn-coed in the parish of Llanfair-ar-y-bryn, near Llandovery.

The National Library of Wales also provides information on many of Wales' manuscripts. Most famous is the Black Book of Carmarthen The manuscript is thought to have been written in the period around 1250, probably by a monk in a priory near Carmarthen making it one of the oldest surviving Welsh language manuscripts. The book is currently held at the National Library of Wales and its 108 pages comprise mostly poetry of various kinds, including religious poems, poems of praise and mourning and some relating to the legend of Myrddin.

Gathering the Jewels is a collection of images of Welsh life, illustrating the natural and social history of Wales throughout the ages. Contents of images include historic letters, paintings, artefacts and photographs, gathered from museums, libraries, record offices and archives throughout Wales.

Digitised images from the Gathering the Jewels website relating to Welsh Literature include those on:-

Cynan (1895-1970) poet, dramatist and a famous former archdruid from Pwllheli
I. D. Hooson (1880-1948), a poet from Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham.
Owain Myfyr (1741-1814) from Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Denbighshire.
T.H. Parry Williams (1887-1975) from Rhyd-ddu, Snowdonia.
Hedd Wyn (Ellis Humphrey Evans, 1887-1917) of Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire.
Daniel Owen (1836-95), the famous novelist from Mold. His novels include Treflan, Enoc Huws and Rhys Lewis.
Thomas Edwards (Twm o'r Nant) (1739-1810) of Llanefydd, Denbighshire, writer of many interludes

Many websites are devoted to individuals. One such resource is digitisation project by the School of Welsh at Cardiff University on Ann Griffiths, a prominent Welsh poet and hymn writer, born at Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, north Powys. The website provides a biographical outline of her life, online access to digitised versions of a cross-section of printed and manuscript material relating to Ann Griffiths, and English translations of her works. It also has a bibliography on her life and work.

There are also moves to commemorate many of these historical figures with lasting tributes. Two such initiatives include Dafydd ap Gwilym Centre Society whose aim is to raise funds to open a Centre dedicated to Wales' most famous poet of the middle ages. The site, which is still under development, provides information on the proposed Centre and how you can help it become reality. Already established is the Hywel Dda Memorial Garden and Interpretive Centre in Whitland, Carmarthenshire. The garden was designed by the artist Peter Lord and is a tribute to Hywel Dda and his laws from the 9th century.

Contemporary Welsh Literature

Llais Llen is a weekly online literary magazine from the BBC. The website provides high-standard reviews of Welsh-language books, interviews with authors as well as a host of contacts in the literary world and details of new Welsh books and the best sellers in the world of Welsh literature. BBC Cymru'r Byd have also published webpages on the dramatist Gwenlyn Parri (1932-1991).

gwales.com is the Welsh Books Council's internet book inquiry and online ordering site. It contains bibliographical information on Welsh and Welsh-interest titles including jacket illustrations and reviews. The Wales Books Council contains a wide range of information on Welsh and English literature. The Welsh Books Council’s Children’s Books department also provides many services and opportunities for schools and libraries in Wales.

The Academi's website lists biographical, bibliographical and contact details for many authors in Wales. There is also a directory of publishers in Wales. Academi is a national society that promotes both the writers and the literatures of Wales. They also publish the literary journal Taliesin. The Academi website provides a wealth of information on Welsh literature. Barddas is another Welsh literature publication with a web presence.

Literary figures on the web include:

Both Byd y Beirdd and Talwrn offer access to Welsh poetry on the web. Byd y Beirdd is an online collection of Welsh language poems aimed at children and young people. The works of over 50 poets are displayed within Byd y Beirdd. Talwrn provides online access to Radio Cymru's Talwrn programme where two teams of bards contest against each other and are given just a few minutes to complete a verse or couplet in cynghanedd. The website provides online access to a number of submitted verses.

Bardd Plant Cymru/ Children’s Poet Laureate

Bardd Plant Cymru (Children Poet Laureatte), a venture established by Planed Plant, S4C, the Welsh Books Council and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. The main aim is to raise the profile of poetry amongst children and to encourage them to compose and enjoy poetry. Bardd Plant Cymru for 2003-4 is Ceri Wyn Jones. Past recipients of the title include Menna Elfyn, Meirion MacIntyre Huws and Myrddin ap Dafydd.

The Cynghanedd

There are also two websites devoted to the cynghanedd. One is Annedd y Cynganeddwyr which translates as 'dwelling of the harmonisers'. The website has discussion, projects and reviews and a listing of many new poems from poets in Wales. The website of Clywed Cynghanedd is an online guide to writing Welsh language poetry to the strict metre of cynghanedd. The website is based on the book by Myrddin ap Dafydd.

Welsh Literature in other languages

Many websites and initiatives have been created in order to open up Welsh literature to an international audience. They include Bwlet, the 'bibliography of Welsh literature in English translation', created by C.R.E.W (Centre for Research into the Literature and Language of Wales) at Swansea University. Bwlet.net is the first comprehensive listing of English translations from Welsh language literature. The online database's records range from translations of sixth century poets to the literary renaissance of the 20th century and the vibrant contemporary scene.

Welsh Literature Abroad exists in order to 'facilitate the translation of Wales' literature' and promote the writers and literature of Wales to an international audience. They offer grants and financial assistance for publishers to translate both English and Welsh literatures. The website has a biography of a number of Welsh authors, information on many published books and eligibility for WLA grants.

Cyfwe is based at the School of European Languages, University of Wales, Swansea. It was established in order to translate contemporary Welsh literature into numerous languages, with parallel texts and commentary. The site includes background information on the project, example texts, references, links and contact information. Cyfwe's aim is to 'open up the riches of Welsh literature to a worldwide audience through the Web'.

Other websites of interest

Tŷ Newydd is the National Writers Centre for Wales, based at Llanystumdwy near Cricieth, Gwynedd. Tŷ Newydd runs creative writing courses in both the English and Welsh languages, and is aimed at writers with all levels of experience. The centre has very close links with Academi.

Wales on the Web also offers online access to a number of resources relating to the Mabinogion.

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