Gododdin: The Earliest British Literature

by Gwyn Thomas

A classic translation of poems from the sixth century. In over a hundred short, rhymed odes, Gododdin commemorates the encounter of 300 Britons with the Angles to win back the land of Catraeth, modern day Catterick, and how that conflict ended in the glorious and heroic defeat of the Britons.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Professor Gwyn Thomas (1936-2016) was a Welsh poet, academic and a former National Poet for Wales.

Raised in Tanygrisiau and Blaenau Ffestiniog, Thomas was educated at Ysgol Sir Ffestiniog, University of Wales, Bangor and Jesus College, Oxford; Prof Thomas is presently Emeritus Professor of Welsh at Bangor University.

Gwyn Thomas published 16 volumes of poetry, several volumes of work as a literary and cultural critic and has also translated the Mabinogion into English. Prof Thomas's first work as a poet Chwerwder yn y Ffynhonnau ("Bitterness in the Fountains") was published in 1962, while his latest Apocalups Yfory ("Apocalypse Tomorrow") was published in 2005.

Prof Thomas was also a literary and cultural critic and has published several volumes of essays, critiques, adaptations and translations, including the classic Y Traddodiad Barddol – a study of the classic poetic tradition of Wales. Prof Thomas is also involved with the film industry in Wales, and has helped pioneer techniques to combine poetry and film.
In 2006, published his autobiography, entitled Bywyd Bach.

Also in 2006, Thomas was appointed National Poet for Wales by the Academi, replacing Wales first national poet Gwyneth Lewis. Thomas said he would use the 12 month appointment to draw attention to the work of Welsh poets.
Thomas has provided the words for many inspiration books and recently added his touch to an inspirational photographic book entitled Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Reviews

[Louis Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly all the lyrical strength is gone in translation, otherwise quite titillating.