Poetry
Category: Poetry, Poetry Anthologies
Number of pages: 344
ISBN: 9781781724040
Publication date: August 4, 2017
Price: £12.99
Out of stock
Re-print coming soon
Welsh Verse, Tony Conran’s milestone of translation, makes a welcome return. Formerly the Penguin Book of Welsh Verse, Seren has expanded the selection of what is the standard text of high quality translations of Welsh poetry stretching from the sixth century to the late twentieth century. Virtually every significant poet (or poem: there are several Anonymous entries over the centuries) is present, and every poetic form is present: the epics of Taliesin and Aneurin, the poets of the medieval princes, Tudor poets, Non-conformist poets, hymn-writers, Romantics, Social Realists and political Nationalists. The poets translated include Aneirin, Taliesin, Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Iolo Goch, Lewis Gkyn Cothi, Morgan Llwyd, William Williams Pantycelyn, Ann Griffith, John Ceiriog Hughes, Robert Williams Parry, T.H. Parry-Williams, Saunders Lewis, Gwenallt, Waldo Willams, Bobi Jones and Gwyn Thomas. There is even a selection of thirty englynion over five centuries.
In addition to an unrivalled breadth of poetry beautifully translated – for many, Conran’s translations are unsurpassed – Welsh Verse also includes a lengthy and influential Introduction full of insight into the history of poetry in the Welsh language, and into the challenges of translating it, particularly over so many centuries and styles. A guide to poetic style, including the strict metres, a glossary and a guide to pronunciation complete this invaluable and peerless book.
Tony Conran (1931-2013)
Poet, translator, dramatist, teacher and literary commentator, much of Tony’s fifty plus year career was spent at the centre, or perhaps the interface would be a better word, of English and Welsh language cultures. Though he was never afraid to ask the awkward question, or to follow a difficult argument, he was a generous teacher, collaborator and person. His translations from Welsh poetry stretching over a thousand years were landmarks, and testimony to his ability to empathise with writers and writing across centuries of differing experiences and conditions. Tony’s own poetry was often demanding, sometimes almost mesmerising in its craft and conviction. He was able to take poetry to more places than most poets in the second half of the twentieth century, as those whose starting point was his truly memorable ‘Elegy for the Welsh Dead, killed in the Falkland Islands’ would quickly discover. Formerly The Penguin Book of Welsh Verse, Seren has expanded his selection of high quality translations in Welsh Verse, published in August 2017. A distinctive writer and critic, his intelligent contribution to the literary life of Wales will be missed.
