A thousand-year-old literature
We have to go back to the distant era when the written word took precedence over oral tradition, when the cynferdd, the first bards, succeeded the druids and took their place alongside the rulers. In the 6th century, Taliesin and Aneirin were born, and both left their names on books that historians and linguists are still struggling to date with certainty. One thing is certain: Hanes Taliesin and Y Gododdin are the first major works of Welsh Celtic literature. Other seminal texts include those written in Latin by the Welsh bishop Geoffroy de Monmouth in the first part of the 12th century. In view of the number of copies found, which was considerable for the medieval period, his Historiaregum Britanniae ( History of the Kings of Brittany ) immediately acquired the status of what would today be called a bestseller. It was also one of the first works to feature King Arthur and Merlin the Enchanter, prompting a debate that is still ongoing today. Either the author was simply translating, as he claims, the untraceable Britannici sermonis liber vetustissimus written in Breton, in which case the legend is based on historical fact, or the story is merely a figment of his imagination..
In 1282, Gwynedd, one of the principal kingdoms of Wales in the Middle Ages, bowed to the English. The poetic tradition was not lost for all that, but it evolved in its inspiration, preferring courtly love to warlike praise, and in its form, submitting to the cywydd, a complex metre taught by the guild of professional poets, according to an apprenticeship which, it was said, lasted several years. Although not a member of this order, Dafydd ap Gwilym (14th century) uses this particular form to perfection, rivaling his contemporary Iolo Goch in technicality. Another art form prized in ancient times was storytelling, improvised by cyfarwydd to the delight of the court. The Mabinogion are a delicious example. These four tales are inspired by ancient Celtic mythology, to which the Arthurian legend is obviously added. Poetry and mysticism continue to evolve hand in hand: didn't Henry Vaughan (1622-1695) have an alchemist twin before he himself turned to metaphysics? His poetry is rugged and rich in symbolism, reflecting his love for Wales and a certain anxiety about the ongoing tensions. In the 18th century, under the impetus of Goronwy Owen, the Welsh bards decided to meet at an eisteddfod, the last dating back to 1450, and to annualize their assemblies. Edward Williams (1747-1826), better known by his bardic name, Iolo Morganwg, organized the first gorsedd, a literary gathering, in 1792 on London's Primrose Hill. His book, Druid's prayer, set out a precise ritual, pursuing the idea that Druidic culture had succumbed neither to Christianity nor to persecution. But the man was also a forger, and some of the verses he attributed to Dafydd ap Gwilym, even though he was the author, were wrongly reprinted in anthologies, which, let's face it, is a sure sign of genius.
Modern times
The 19th century saw the birth of Daniel Owen (1836-1895), considered the first Welsh-language novelist. If his youth has Dickensian overtones - his father died in the mine at the same time as two of his brothers - the themes of his compositions are also close to the work of the remarkable English writer. Rhys Lewis takes place in his hometown of Mold, where Owen recounts the poverty of the miners, the injustice and the comfort of faith, when it is not taught by violent men. This highly acclaimed novel and its sequel, Enoch Huws, are still read today. In a totally different style, Arthur Machen, born in Caerleon in 1863, tried his hand at fantasy. French readers can enjoy his novels Le Grand dieu Pan and La Colline des rêves, republished by Terre de brume, and his writing proves so realistic that his short story The Bownen, which appeared in the Evening News on September 29, 1914, in which he recounts how angels sent by St. George came to the rescue of wounded soldiers on the battle front, is taken literally. He spent years trying to put an end to the urban legend he had unwittingly created. During the same war, Ellis Humhrey Evans lost his life, for real, and his nickname, Hedd Wyn (White Peace), took on a tragic accent, especially considering he was only thirty years old. The young Welsh farmer and poet left a lasting impression on his peers, as did the chair he left unoccupied at the 1917 National Eisteddford when, three times over, the archdruid pronounced his name, the laureate, before realizing he wasn't coming back. Another First World War fatality was to have a notable influence on an aspiring author, Kate Roberts (1891-1985). In mourning for her brother, she took refuge in writing. In her short stories, her first collection O gors y brynaiau was published in 1925, and in her novels, including Traed mewn cyffion, she describes poverty, but also struggle. Her letter-writing relationship with Saunders Lewis, which lasted for almost 40 years, remains famous, and they shared a common political commitment, the poet having founded Plaid Cymru (the national party of Wales) while enriching Welsh literature with his verse and plays. Finally, it's impossible to close this 19th century without mentioning Bertrand Russell, who largely outlived him, having died in 1970 at the age of 97. A free thinker, distinguished philosopher and mathematician, it was for his literature that he was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in 1950. Many of his works are available in French, including his Écrits sur l'éducation, reissued by Écosociété in early 2019.
Wales can be proud that the twentieth century was just as fruitful. Ronald Stuart Thomas was born in Cardiff in 1913. In love with his own culture, it was in English that he decided to write, leaving behind no less than 1,500 poems, whose simplicity rivals their beauty, and which earned him the Queen's Distinction in 1964. His near namesake, Dylan, was born the following year, but that was all that brought them together, as the former, an Anglican priest, frequented churches while the latter preferred pubs. Although Dylan Thomas died prematurely at the age of 39, probably of liver failure, he nevertheless left behind a body of work that is considered one of the most brilliant in English-language literature. His autobiography, Portrait de l'artiste en jeune chien, published by Points, or his poems, in the anthology Ce monde est mon partage et celui du démon, available from the same publisher, will tell the tale. The century is only 16 years old, and celebrates the birth of an essential author for children of all ages. Roald Dahl was raised in Wales by Norwegian parents. Fatherless in his early childhood, he didn't wait until he came of age before setting off to discover the world. His career as a fighter pilot inspired him to write his first short story, A Piece of Cake, and he flourished in adult literature, while at the same time putting his pen to work for young people, a talent rewarded by international renown. James and the Big Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Gremlins and The Enormous Crocodile are just some of the stories that continue to light a spark of joy in the eyes of readers of all generations. Roald Dahl has been honored with numerous awards, including the Edgar Allan Poe Prize in 1954 and 1960, a distinction he shares with another celebrated figure far beyond Welsh borders, Ken Follett. Studying philosophy in London, the young man returned to his native Cardiff in the 1970s to become a journalist. Efficient writing, meticulous historical descriptions and a flawless construction that maintains suspense - this was the unstoppable recipe that brought him success from his first book, L'Arme à l'œil, in 1979. There are few who haven't tried their hand at The Pillars of the Earth, or spent long, sleepless nights finishing his other trilogy, The Century.
Today, Welsh literature is doing well, even if it sometimes takes unexpected paths, such as the success of the very young Beth Reekles (b. 1995), who signed a contract with Random House UK in 2012, following 19 million reads of her manuscript, The Kissing Booth, which she wrote on Wattpad. Netflix commissioned an adaptation, the film was released in 2018 and the French version is available from Hachette Livres. At the same time, however, the Welsh haven't forgotten their roots, let alone their ancestral language, for, as the saying goes, quoted by Ifor ap Glyn, national poet twice crowned with the ever-elusive National Eisteddfod, "Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon", "A nation without language is a nation without heart". It's a safe bet that in the new millennium, which has just begun, Welsh writers will continue to find the right words to cross all borders and seas.
