Guide to Welsh Literature c. 1700–1800

Edited by Branwen Jarvis

'. . . an essential stock for libraries worldwide with any interest in Wales or in European literatures.' (Language and Literature Reference Reviews).

‘ . . . Glyn Tegai Hughes's dazzling opening essay . . . contains the best short introduction that I know of to the problematic of eighteenth-century Welsh religious history; his use of comparative contextual material from Germany is especially illuminating. Another gem, worth buying the book for, is Geraint H. Jenkins's brilliant and often hilarious survey of historical writing in the eighteenth century. ’ (Planet)

‘Cyfrol sy’n llenwi bwlch yw hon, ar ddau gyfrif. Yn gyntaf, wrth gyhoeddi hon, ynghyd â’r gyfrol sy’n ymwneud â llenyddiaeth y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, y mae’r gyfres, A Guide to Welsh Literature . . . yn gyflawn, am y tro. Yn ail, mae’r gyfrol yn llenwi bwlch yn y farchnad lyfrau Saesneg eu cyfrwng sy’n ymdrin â Chymru a’r Gymraeg . . . ’ (Taliesin)

A comprehensive introduction in English to the Welsh literature of the eighteenth century.

The renaissance of the classical tradition, the rich vein of folk culture, the great religious poetry, the awakening of interest in Celticism and the founding of literary and scholarly societies are among the varied aspects of literary and cultural activity in eighteenth-century Wales which are examined and assessed. The book brings together in one volume much material which is otherwise unavailable to the English-speaking reader, and many of the chapters embody the fruits of new research and fresh critical thinking.

Branwen Jarvis is Head of the Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Bangor

Contents and contributors:

• Glyn Tegai Hughes, Life and Thought;
• Geraint H. Jenkins, Historical Writing in the Eighteenth Century;
• Gwyn Thomas, Two Prose Writers: Ellis Wynne and Theophilus Evans;
• Gerald Morgan, The Morris Brothers;
• Branwen Jarvis, Goronwy Owen: Neoclassical Poet and Critic;
• Ffion Llewelyn Jenkins, Celticism and Pre-Romanticism: Evan Evans;
• Ceri W. Lewis, Iolo Morganwg;
• Glenda Carr, William Owen Pughe and the London Societies;
• Rhiannon Ifans, Folk Poetry and Diversions;
• Dafydd Glyn Jones, The Interludes;
• Kathryn Jenkins, Williams Pantycelyn;
• Brynley F. Roberts, The Literature of the ‘Great Awakening’;
• R. M. Jones, Ann Grffiths and the Norm.