Home » Arts & Design

Anglo-Welsh Literature

Ranked #12,293 in Arts & Design, #232,188 overall

What is Anglo-Welsh Literature?

The Wikipedia defines it as:-"a term used to describe works written in the English language by Welsh writers, especially if they either have subject matter relating to Wales or (as in the case of Anglo-Welsh poetry in particular) are influenced by the Welsh language in terms of patterns of usage or syntax." I am broadly satisfied with that definition and prefer to avoid the sterile academic debates concerning the precise denotation of the term.

In recent decades we have witnessed a flowering of literary culture in Wales and stereotypical Welsh writing so famously satirized by Harri Webb in his poem "Synopsis of the Great Welsh Novel" has been left far behind. We have seen the emergence of Welsh noir ( Niall Griffiths, Malcolm Pryce, John Williams ) which continues to be popular and other major talents such as Lloyd jones, Rachel Trezise, Trezza Azzopardi and Owen Sheers have made their presence known.

All in all these are exciting times for literature in Wales and I hope that this page will help to introduce the works of these authors to a new audience.

Contents at a Glance

New!!
Americymru Blogspot
West Coast Eisteddfod 2011 Poetry Compet...
Americymru: New American Welsh Social Ne...
Sea Holly
Gee Williams: Salvage

New!!

Upcoming literary events, publication dates etc.

Seren News - April 2011 - Welsh Books, Books From Wales: Ruth Bidgood Shorlisted for Roland Mathias Prize!

Ruth Bidgood's Time Being has been shortlisted for the Roland Mathias Prize 2011. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Ruth Bidgood, who lives in Powys, has published twelve volumes of poetry. Her descriptions in Time Being are credited as "Sharp and memorable, tending to a cool accuracy."
The Award Ceremony for the Roland Mathias Prize 2011 will be held at The Guildhall, Brecon on Friday 8th April 2011.
'Filming Owain Glyndwr' by David Barry: About David Barry:- David Barry (born 30 April 1943) is a Welsh actor. He is best known for his role as Frankie Abott, (the gum-chewing mother's boy who was convinced he was extremely tough), in the LWT sitcom Please Sir! and the spin-off series The Fenn Street Gang, He has appeared in several films, notably two TV spin-off movies - Please Sir! and George and Mildred. David is now an author with two novels and an autobiography under his belt, Each Man Kills, Flashback and Willie The Actor.
An Interview With Wales' Latest Blogging Sensation - Crap House Wife: AmeriCymru: Hi and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. I suppose the first question on many of our readers minds is:- What inspired Crap Wife? What is the story behind the blog?

Americymru Blogspot

Book reviews and literary press releases are featured in the Americymru Blog frequently. Check back for the latest news.

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

West Coast Eisteddfod 2011 Poetry Competition Submissions

You may submit your entries in Welsh, English or Spanish. You may submit up to five entries in each language category. The three language categories will be judged separately and there will be a prize for each. Accompanying graphics are not permitted. There is a US150 dollars (approx 100GBP ) prize for the winners in each category. The final submission date is September 15th 2011.

All poetic styles and conventions are welcome ( limericks, however, will not be considered for a prize ) There is no upper or lower word limit. Entries need not reference Wales in any way , shape or form. You may submit up to five entries in each category and work which has appeared elsewhere is acceptable provided you have not surrendered your copyright.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the West Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition ( English language category ) will be featured in the prestigious international poetry magazine - "The Seventh Quarry" Peter Thabit Jones, the editor of the magazine which is based in Swansea, will feature the winning submission together with an appreciation and a picture of the author. The winner will also receive a free annual subscription to the magazine for one year plus the cash prize of $150 ( 100 GBP approx ).

The winner and his/her work will also be featured on this site on what we hope will be a heavily trafficked page.

How To Submit Your Poem

Members

Simply join this Group and post your poems individually (and any links) as separate discussions in the group forum ( here ). Please include your name in the subject line. If you wish to include a link to your website or blog please do so but remember that we appreciate a reciprocal link from your blog or website to the Poetry Competition page. Please DO NOT post attachments ( unless you have unusual formatting requirements ). You can simply cut and paste the text of your poem. We welcome submissions that are published elsewhere online provided they are your own work.

Post your poem on your website or blog and post a link to the relevant url as a separate discussion in the group forum ( here ). If you adopt this procedure we will REQUIRE a reciprocal link to the main Poetry Competition page from your blog or website.

Non Members

Post your submission on your blog and email us with the url ( americymru@gmail.com ). We will include it on the Group page. In this case mutual linking is required.

Email your submission to us and we will post it on the group page and credit you as author. in this case mutual linking is an option but not required.

The Fine Print

There is no entry or submission fee for this competition. The requirement to backlink if you are posting on your own blog and linking here ( or submitting a link to your blog on this page ) is obligatory and designed to be mutually beneficial.

Any materials submitted in this group will remain the sole property of the author. We guarantee not to display any poem or any portion thereof on other pages or sites without the express permission of the author. Likewise materials submitted here or linked here can be removed or unlinked at any time by the author or at his/her request.

Cash prizes in the language categories will only be awarded in the event that there are a minimum of 12 competiton entries.

Last Years Winners

Iberia by Bruce Lader FIRST PRIZE

He Paints by Jolen Whitworth SECOND PRIZE

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Americymru: New American Welsh Social Network

Anyone interested in Anglo-Welsh literature in the US ( or Wales ) might consider joining the Americymru Social Network. Here are the membership requirements:-

Americymru Social Network

This is a very exclusive group. In order to join you must:-

A. Be Welsh or of Welsh descent...or not.
B. Be a keen admirer of Tom Jones...or not.
C. Know at least 2 Windsor Davies quotes...or not.
D. Know how to give detailed directions from Fochriw to Ystradgynlais
avoiding all main roads and passing at least 15 pubs en route...or
not.

The above nonsense notwithstanding feel free to join if you have some
regard for, and/or interest in, Wales and Welsh culture and way too
much time on your hands.

Americymru Social Network

Sea Holly

Gee Williams: Salvage

Anglo Welsh literature has produced a number of exciting new talents in recent years. Prominent amongst these is Gee Williams whose debut novel 'Salvage' recently won one of the Aur Pur/Pure Gold prizes for 2008. The novel is a 'literary thriller' set in Wales and Chester and though there is a body ( and body parts ) this is not a work of crime fiction. Indeed the crime is almost incidental to the plot. What we are offered instead is a haunting and realistic drama, narrated skilfully from five different perspectives, in which themes of timeless significance are explored. This novel has a great deal to say about human relationships in the 21st century; emotional constancy, marital infidelity and the consequences of each. It also treats of ambition, betrayal and lust. Couple that with a first rate plot and a keen sense of pace and you have all the ingredients necessary for a stunning debut novel.....more here and here.

John A. Shaffer: St Winifred's Well

This meticulously researched book will be a source of delight to antiquarians and lovers of Wales everywhere. There are many accounts of the circumstances leading to St Winifred's canonisation but few people will be aware of the struggle at the beginning of the last century to save the well that bears her name from industruial despoilation. Likewise only a very select few can claim to have visited the enormous underground lake from which the spring originally flowed.....more.

Owen Sheers: Resistance

This novel is set in an alternative universe. One in which the Nazis succeed in conquering Russia and invading Britain after the failure of the D-Day landings in 1944. Such literary contrivances can seem very intrusive in a work of 'mainstream' literature but to Owen Sheers' credit the conceit is rendered with a masterful touch and seems almost essential in order to intensify the focus of the books' main theme. In the depths of a freezing winter in a remote corner of the Black Mountains in South Wales two people consider whether it is possible to 'cheat' history; leave the past behind and assert their shared humanity in the midst of bloody conflict. ......more.

Buy on Amazon

Blue Sky July: Nia Wyn

Her prose style is breathtaking! Follow the link to download the first three chapters of this minor masterpiece and see for yourself:- LINK

Buy on Amazon

Rachel Trezise

Ok I.ll go out on a limb and say that Rachel Trezise is one of the finest short story writers alive today. She writes about poverty and youth in a post-miners strike South Wales with particular emphasis on the Rhondda valley. Whilst her evocations of that area will delight people who are acquainted with it, her themes are sufficiently universal to entrance readers everywhere. Her stories are firmly anchored in their own geographical context and as a result they are able to project a universal significance.

It was once fashionable to praise short story writers by describing their works as 'Chekovian'. Rachel Trezise's stories are not 'Chekovian'. They do not follow the 'Life in the day of" approach of the best of Chekov and deal instead with very concrete and structured incidents in the classic short story tradition. Indeed one of her stories entitled 'Chickens' has a morally didactic tone reminiscent of Katherine Mansfield's classic tale "The Doll's House".more

The Authors

This list is intended to represent as wide a variety of Welsh writing as possible. It will grow! If anyone has suggestions for authors to include please contact me or post in the Guestbook.

Rhys Henry Hughes: A Welsh master of the absurd!
Niall Griffiths: The uncompromising creator of "Sheepshagger", "Grits" and "Stump"
Malcolm Pryce: Welsh Noir set in Aberystwyth.
John Williams: Welsh Noir set in Tiger Bay, Cardiff.
John Evans: "One of the most committed writers in Wales today"
Alastair Reynolds: A first rate Welsh born science fiction writer.
Dave Langford: Welsh science fiction writer from Newport, Gwent.
Owen Sheers: New talent! Poet and Novelist
Desmond Barry: Novelist and short story writer.
Trezza Azzopardi: Author of "The Hiding Place", shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2000.
Lloyd Jones: A surreal novelist. Major new talent.
Rachel Trezise: One of the finest short story writers alive today!
Gee Williams: Scriptwriter, poet and novelist from North Wales.