Dafydd ap Gwilym: His Poems

(Paperback)

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Dafydd ap Gwilym is the most prolific and famous of medieval Welsh poets and perhaps the greatest Welsh poet of all time. In his work he portrays himself as a not too successful lover, a joker, story-teller and a profound observer of the brevity of human life, while his innovative language, subject-matter and poetic technique gave a new dimension to Welsh poetry. Gwyn Thomas provides an accessible English translation of Dafydd ap Gwilym's complete poems which aims not only to give an accurate rhythmic version of the meaning of the Welsh text but also to suggest the complex orchestration of the original material. The poems are annotated to bring out their historical and literary context and the translation is prefaced by an introduction to the poet and his work. This edition of the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym will appeal to all those interested in Welsh literature and the literature of the middle ages. It presents a poet who not only integrated European ideas of courtly love with the Welsh bardic tradition, but who, in his depiction of the pursuit of love and his celebration of nature, defines himself as a fascinating individual figure in an age of heavy conventions.

Reviews

'His poems ... have been painstakingly translated with empathy and sensitivity by the scholar and the experienced translator Gwyn Thomas. Without doubt he has set he has set himself a difficult and almost impossible task but undaunted he has done so with integrity, skilful patience, weaving Dafydd ap Gwilym's words into an English harmony.' PQR "...extremely accessible for a range of audiences, from scholars to general readers who enjoy good poetry. Provides an accessible and enjoyable portal into the world of medieval Welsh poetry." Helen Fulton, University of Sydney, Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies

Author Bio

Gwyn Thomas is Emeritus Professor of Welsh Language and Literature at the University of Wales, Bangor and the translator of several acclaimed English-language editions of Welsh legends, including Tales from the Mabinogion; The Quest for Olwen and The Tale of Taliesin. His interests are wide ranging and he is well known for making the Welsh poetic tradition more easily available for the modern reader. This book would be a popular text for students studying in Wales particularly, and would act as background reading for many courses, specifically Welsh language and literature courses.