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Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd
A new edition of Islwyn Ffowc Elis's classic Welsh novel which portrays Wales as it could be in the year 2033. Includes a new foreword by Dylan Iorwerth. Reprint. This edition was first published in 2012.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 6, 2023
I found it hard to decide what I thought of this novel. I've only finished reading the English language paperback book, and not yet read all of the Welsh language original novel as audiobook.
it was difficult to separate out how I felt about the novel from how I felt about the translation. that really felt like it impacted my enjoyment of the novel.
it is possible that this was one of the authors less lyrical pieces of writing, and that it was written to present ideas and opinions, and to encourage action, rather than as a work of literature/art.
but I spent alot of my time reading it being grumpy with the translation and translator! 😕😬🙄
the translation lacked the rhythm and lyricism I expected - things I feel often inherent in alot of Welsh language writing. I've read a short story by the same author, translated from Welsh into English (by the author in that instance) and that definitely had this lyrical quality. it felt like the translator had tried to make an English language novel from a Welsh language novel, rather than conveying a Welsh language novel in English.
the translators use of footnotes to explain their choices, and a few other things, was really annoying too. while some of the aspects of language and/or history the footnotes included were interesting, and useful context/comment, I think they would have been better in their own section at the end of the book - being on page, they distracted from the flow of the novel, occasionally taking up half the page.
grumbles about the translation aside, how did I like the novel?
overall I liked it 🙂
I think it's useful to keep in mind when it was written (1957) while reading it - in part for things like some of the sexism (tho there is a kinda challenge to the potential sexism of the time in the more egalitarian imagined future), and also for political and cultural significance.
the imagined future Wales was interesting 😃 everyone knows both Welsh and English, and speaks in whichever they prefer 🙂 nicer than having to choose I think. nuclear power is running alot of things - maybe abit naive? maybe before safety concerns were known? and/or possibly just before nuclear power was a thing? 🤔 (the internet tells me the first commercial nuclear power plants were developed in the 1960s, with a prototype running 1957-1963).
the road signs are in Welsh and English 🙂 something that came true 😁 (in the mid-late 1960s into early 1970s). the film screening from a visit to the moon 😉
I loved the inclusion (in the utopian future Wales) of a generous Welsh arts council 😉 both wrt the importance of artistic expression in Welsh culture, and the author being an artist himself. it felt kinda nicely tongue in cheek too 😉
after a too brief visit, Ifan is determined to return to future Wales, to live there and be with Mair... tho on return he finds himself in a very different, more dystopian, future W... well, not even Wales, but 'Western England'. interestingly some of the grim speculations about this future are closer to our own time in 2023! 😬
the consequences of overpopulation and overindustrialisation!
(was very reminiscent of the 2006 film adaptation of 'Children of Men'!) 😬😢
🌟🌟🌟🌟
the novel presents politically a pretty clear cut 'we have two potential futures and now is the time to act to bring about the one we want' (this action I personally believe is still ongoing). and is quite politically and nationally rousing - for the characters, and this reader 🙂😉
Cymru Rhydd!
Cymru am Byth!
✊🐲🌼🐲✊
it was difficult to separate out how I felt about the novel from how I felt about the translation. that really felt like it impacted my enjoyment of the novel.
it is possible that this was one of the authors less lyrical pieces of writing, and that it was written to present ideas and opinions, and to encourage action, rather than as a work of literature/art.
but I spent alot of my time reading it being grumpy with the translation and translator! 😕😬🙄
the translation lacked the rhythm and lyricism I expected - things I feel often inherent in alot of Welsh language writing. I've read a short story by the same author, translated from Welsh into English (by the author in that instance) and that definitely had this lyrical quality. it felt like the translator had tried to make an English language novel from a Welsh language novel, rather than conveying a Welsh language novel in English.
the translators use of footnotes to explain their choices, and a few other things, was really annoying too. while some of the aspects of language and/or history the footnotes included were interesting, and useful context/comment, I think they would have been better in their own section at the end of the book - being on page, they distracted from the flow of the novel, occasionally taking up half the page.
grumbles about the translation aside, how did I like the novel?
overall I liked it 🙂
I think it's useful to keep in mind when it was written (1957) while reading it - in part for things like some of the sexism (tho there is a kinda challenge to the potential sexism of the time in the more egalitarian imagined future), and also for political and cultural significance.
the imagined future Wales was interesting 😃 everyone knows both Welsh and English, and speaks in whichever they prefer 🙂 nicer than having to choose I think. nuclear power is running alot of things - maybe abit naive? maybe before safety concerns were known? and/or possibly just before nuclear power was a thing? 🤔 (the internet tells me the first commercial nuclear power plants were developed in the 1960s, with a prototype running 1957-1963).
the road signs are in Welsh and English 🙂 something that came true 😁 (in the mid-late 1960s into early 1970s). the film screening from a visit to the moon 😉
I loved the inclusion (in the utopian future Wales) of a generous Welsh arts council 😉 both wrt the importance of artistic expression in Welsh culture, and the author being an artist himself. it felt kinda nicely tongue in cheek too 😉
after a too brief visit, Ifan is determined to return to future Wales, to live there and be with Mair... tho on return he finds himself in a very different, more dystopian, future W... well, not even Wales, but 'Western England'. interestingly some of the grim speculations about this future are closer to our own time in 2023! 😬
the consequences of overpopulation and overindustrialisation!
(was very reminiscent of the 2006 film adaptation of 'Children of Men'!) 😬😢
🌟🌟🌟🌟
the novel presents politically a pretty clear cut 'we have two potential futures and now is the time to act to bring about the one we want' (this action I personally believe is still ongoing). and is quite politically and nationally rousing - for the characters, and this reader 🙂😉
Cymru Rhydd!
Cymru am Byth!
✊🐲🌼🐲✊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2023
Nofel wyddonias Gymraeg (a Chymreig) lle mae'r prif gymeriad (Ifan Powel) yn teithio i Gymru'r dyfodol yn 2033. Er bod y nofel yn perthyn i draddodiad 1984 a Brave New World, mae Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd yn wahanol i waith Orwell a Huxley gan fod Islwyn Ffowc Elis yn cyferbynnu dau fersiwn o Gymru'r dyfodol - iwtopia a distopia (fel y dengys Dylan Iorwerth yn ei gyflwyniad rhagorol i'r argraffiad diweddaraf). Iwtopia yw Cymru rydd lle mae'r Gymraeg yn ffynnu a'r gymdeithas Gymreig yn llewyrchu; distopia yw Cymru gaeth lle mae'r Gymraeg wedi marw a'r tir bellach yn cael ei alw'n 'Western England'.
Nofel o'r 1950au yw'r nofel hon ac mae hynny'n gwbl amlwg o'i darllen. Gan mai dim ond degawd sydd i fynd tan 2033, mae'n ddiddorol darllen y nofel gan ystyried pa broffwydoliaethau sydd wedi cael eu gwireddu a pha rai nad ydynt wedi dod yn wir. Mae'n nodweddiadol sut mae Islwyn Ffowc Elis yn plethu diwylliant a chrefydd gan geisio argyhoeddi'r darllenydd mai annibyniaeth yw'r ateb i holl broblemau'r Cymry - y gwleidyddol, yr economaidd, y cymdeithasol, y diwylliannol, yr ysbrydol, y metaffisegol, y moesol. Sgwn i pa mor wahanol fyddai'r nofel hon petai wedi cael ei hysgrifennu heddiw?
Nofel o'r 1950au yw'r nofel hon ac mae hynny'n gwbl amlwg o'i darllen. Gan mai dim ond degawd sydd i fynd tan 2033, mae'n ddiddorol darllen y nofel gan ystyried pa broffwydoliaethau sydd wedi cael eu gwireddu a pha rai nad ydynt wedi dod yn wir. Mae'n nodweddiadol sut mae Islwyn Ffowc Elis yn plethu diwylliant a chrefydd gan geisio argyhoeddi'r darllenydd mai annibyniaeth yw'r ateb i holl broblemau'r Cymry - y gwleidyddol, yr economaidd, y cymdeithasol, y diwylliannol, yr ysbrydol, y metaffisegol, y moesol. Sgwn i pa mor wahanol fyddai'r nofel hon petai wedi cael ei hysgrifennu heddiw?
December 21, 2021
Entertaining and politically interesting. If you want to read it for the vision, do go on. If you want to read it for the characters or plot, though, you will be sorely disappointed. There is also a god-awful romantic element and not-so-subtle undertones of misogyny. Overall, worth knowing, but doesn't offer much good outside from political activism
May 11, 2020
(English below) Mwynheuais i’r llyfr ‘ma yn fawr iawn. Mae e’n ysbrydoledig ac yn frawychus yn yr un pryd.
Dyw e ddim yn berffaith fel nofel achos roedd yr awdur yn canolbwyntio cymaint ar ei neges ond dim ots. Mae digon yma i gwneud i mi eisiau gweithio yn galetach ar gyfer yr hen iaith.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It’s inspiring and scary at the same time.
It isn’t perfect as a novel because the author concentrated so much on his message that the structure and language of the novel suffered but however I enjoyed this very much. There is enough there to make me want to work harder for the old language.
Dyw e ddim yn berffaith fel nofel achos roedd yr awdur yn canolbwyntio cymaint ar ei neges ond dim ots. Mae digon yma i gwneud i mi eisiau gweithio yn galetach ar gyfer yr hen iaith.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It’s inspiring and scary at the same time.
It isn’t perfect as a novel because the author concentrated so much on his message that the structure and language of the novel suffered but however I enjoyed this very much. There is enough there to make me want to work harder for the old language.
July 1, 2025
ega see nüüd ülemäära hästi kirjutatud raamat ei olnud ja mingi kvaliteetulme ka mitte, aga sotsiaalse kommentaarina ikkagi täitsa lugemist väärt!
kirjutatud aastal 1957, aga nii ajarännuosa kui mõnedki üldised suhtumised (khmkhm, Bechdeli test) on rohkem nagu 19. sajandist - algus meenutas mulle hirmsasti Wellsi "Ajamasinat", kuigi masin/rännutehnoloogia ise on vähem aurupunk. peategelane osutub sobivalt (jumal masinast!) õiget tüüpi inimeseks, et teda saaks tulevikku saata, ja nii ta seal siis kaks korda ära käibki - esimesel korral utoopilises, teisel korral düstoopilises versioonis 2033. aasta Walesist.
kuna ma kuidagi ei suuda viimasel ajal ühtegi raamatut lugeda ilma seda teistega võrdlemata ja kuna ma selle Wellsi juba nagunii sisse tõin, siis mingu ka pulgad: esimene, iseseisev ja sotsialistlikuvõitu Wales on nagu Päikeselinn vastavast Totu-raamatust; teine katse aga täielik "Totu kuul", kus kurjad imperialistid-kapitalistid on maa üle võtnud, tööstust/metsaistandusi/reservuaare täis tuupinud ja üldse Lääne-Inglismaaks ümber nimetanud. kõmri keel on kah välja surnud (hmm, sisuliselt ühe inimpõlvega?)
eks vanaaegse ulme puhul on ikka huvitav vaadata, mis siis täppi läks. ja tõepoolest, Walesi senat ja kõmrikeelsed kohanimed ja liiklusmärgid ja poesildid on aastal 2025 kõik täiesti olemas ja keegi ei kujuta ettegi, et võiks mitte olla (okei, tähendab, paraku on täiesti olemas ka need inglased, kes kandideerivad senatisse platvormiga, et lõpetatagu see raiskamine ja tehtagu kõik ükskeelseks tagasi - aga las see praegu jääb). inglise emakeelega lastele õpetatakse koolis kõmri keelt. ja, okei, see on vist küll siseringi nali, aga: kiiruspiirang autodele on 30 mph. tehnoloogia lubaks küll kiiremini, aga otsustatud on, et ei ole vaja rapsida. rong, tõsi, sõidab ikkagi sajaga (aga jällegi, ta SAAKS kiiremini, ta lihtsalt ei taha). telefonikõned toimuvad koos videopildiga (v armas kõmrikeelne sõnaleid "gwelefon" on originaalis olnud ja tõlkija on selle lahkelt joone alla lisanud, mille eest talle aitäh, sest ma ei viitsi originaalis küll esialgu lugeda seda raamatut).
samas jälle on 50ndate unelmates praktiliselt kõik tuleviku waleslased karsklased ja taimetoitlased, aga suitsetavad samas, nagu poleks homset (ainult et tehtud on sellised sigaretid, mis tervist ei riku). Wales on saatnud omaenda kosmoselaeva Kuule. majandus püsib väikeettevõtluse ja kooperatiivide peal (nt sütt ja kiltkivi kaevandatakse täie rauaga muudkui edasi, lihtsalt kasum jääb töölistele); suurettevõtlus on nii kõvasti maksustatud, et keegi ei soovi seda ette võtta, mis ongi täpselt point. valitseb bukooliline idüll, sest enamus inimesi on farmerid, sest farmer olla on lihtsalt nii mõnus ju (aa, ja päikesepaistet saab Brasiiliast pudeliga importida, nii et võid teha nt oma kohviistanduse). ja kogu ühiskond veedab terve pühapäeva kirikus!
ela või ise, kas pole. peategelane Ifan arvab ka nii (lisaks muidugi on ta veits armunud) ja sellest see teine visiit, kuigi kõik ütlevad talle, et ära jama ja et see ei saa hästi lõppeda. nii lähebki, uuel katsel on tulevik hoopis teine ja kõik on nii masendav, et see osa saab palju kiiremini läbi. loo moraal on ilmselge - sinu asi, Ifan, on olevikku jääda ja teha kõik selleks, et see esimene, ilus tulevik saaks päriselt aset leida. mis pole ju moraalina paha; siin on jällegi lisaks poliitiline kiht juures ja noormees, kes loo alguses suhtus igasugusesse Walesi rahvuslusse skeptiliselt ja leidis, et iseseisvusest sünniks rohkem kahju kui kasu, muudab meelt ja astub Plaid Cymru liikmeks.
tiitellehelt saame teada, et Plaid Cymru on selle raamatu ka esmaavaldanud, nii et puha poliitiline pamflett ikka :)
kirjutatud aastal 1957, aga nii ajarännuosa kui mõnedki üldised suhtumised (khmkhm, Bechdeli test) on rohkem nagu 19. sajandist - algus meenutas mulle hirmsasti Wellsi "Ajamasinat", kuigi masin/rännutehnoloogia ise on vähem aurupunk. peategelane osutub sobivalt (jumal masinast!) õiget tüüpi inimeseks, et teda saaks tulevikku saata, ja nii ta seal siis kaks korda ära käibki - esimesel korral utoopilises, teisel korral düstoopilises versioonis 2033. aasta Walesist.
kuna ma kuidagi ei suuda viimasel ajal ühtegi raamatut lugeda ilma seda teistega võrdlemata ja kuna ma selle Wellsi juba nagunii sisse tõin, siis mingu ka pulgad: esimene, iseseisev ja sotsialistlikuvõitu Wales on nagu Päikeselinn vastavast Totu-raamatust; teine katse aga täielik "Totu kuul", kus kurjad imperialistid-kapitalistid on maa üle võtnud, tööstust/metsaistandusi/reservuaare täis tuupinud ja üldse Lääne-Inglismaaks ümber nimetanud. kõmri keel on kah välja surnud (hmm, sisuliselt ühe inimpõlvega?)
eks vanaaegse ulme puhul on ikka huvitav vaadata, mis siis täppi läks. ja tõepoolest, Walesi senat ja kõmrikeelsed kohanimed ja liiklusmärgid ja poesildid on aastal 2025 kõik täiesti olemas ja keegi ei kujuta ettegi, et võiks mitte olla (okei, tähendab, paraku on täiesti olemas ka need inglased, kes kandideerivad senatisse platvormiga, et lõpetatagu see raiskamine ja tehtagu kõik ükskeelseks tagasi - aga las see praegu jääb). inglise emakeelega lastele õpetatakse koolis kõmri keelt. ja, okei, see on vist küll siseringi nali, aga: kiiruspiirang autodele on 30 mph. tehnoloogia lubaks küll kiiremini, aga otsustatud on, et ei ole vaja rapsida. rong, tõsi, sõidab ikkagi sajaga (aga jällegi, ta SAAKS kiiremini, ta lihtsalt ei taha). telefonikõned toimuvad koos videopildiga (v armas kõmrikeelne sõnaleid "gwelefon" on originaalis olnud ja tõlkija on selle lahkelt joone alla lisanud, mille eest talle aitäh, sest ma ei viitsi originaalis küll esialgu lugeda seda raamatut).
samas jälle on 50ndate unelmates praktiliselt kõik tuleviku waleslased karsklased ja taimetoitlased, aga suitsetavad samas, nagu poleks homset (ainult et tehtud on sellised sigaretid, mis tervist ei riku). Wales on saatnud omaenda kosmoselaeva Kuule. majandus püsib väikeettevõtluse ja kooperatiivide peal (nt sütt ja kiltkivi kaevandatakse täie rauaga muudkui edasi, lihtsalt kasum jääb töölistele); suurettevõtlus on nii kõvasti maksustatud, et keegi ei soovi seda ette võtta, mis ongi täpselt point. valitseb bukooliline idüll, sest enamus inimesi on farmerid, sest farmer olla on lihtsalt nii mõnus ju (aa, ja päikesepaistet saab Brasiiliast pudeliga importida, nii et võid teha nt oma kohviistanduse). ja kogu ühiskond veedab terve pühapäeva kirikus!
ela või ise, kas pole. peategelane Ifan arvab ka nii (lisaks muidugi on ta veits armunud) ja sellest see teine visiit, kuigi kõik ütlevad talle, et ära jama ja et see ei saa hästi lõppeda. nii lähebki, uuel katsel on tulevik hoopis teine ja kõik on nii masendav, et see osa saab palju kiiremini läbi. loo moraal on ilmselge - sinu asi, Ifan, on olevikku jääda ja teha kõik selleks, et see esimene, ilus tulevik saaks päriselt aset leida. mis pole ju moraalina paha; siin on jällegi lisaks poliitiline kiht juures ja noormees, kes loo alguses suhtus igasugusesse Walesi rahvuslusse skeptiliselt ja leidis, et iseseisvusest sünniks rohkem kahju kui kasu, muudab meelt ja astub Plaid Cymru liikmeks.
tiitellehelt saame teada, et Plaid Cymru on selle raamatu ka esmaavaldanud, nii et puha poliitiline pamflett ikka :)
December 8, 2024
Can't believe that one of the books I have most thoughts about is one of the lowest profile ones I've read all year!
I'd always thought of this as being a political novel and had overlooked the science fiction aspect despite it being well known to be set in the future. This aspect was probably the big surprise of the book, and like any other book from the 1950s that's about the future, it's really interesting seeing how people then expected a decade ahead of today to actually be like, what they got right and what they didn't. (The reference to Llyn Tryweryn for example had me flicking back to check when exactly it was written!)
On the more political side, what's really interesting is the finer details of the ideologies in ‘good’ and ‘bad’ 1950s Wales and how they reflect political thought then and now. For example, restrictions on large businesses and lack of urbanisation in the economy being seen as good things – still a view that's hurting Wales today! – idealistic pacifism and completely failing to spot declining religiosity. So while I was familiar with the core message (which was surprisingly unsubtle in the final chapter or two!) the layers of detail really drew me in.
I'd always thought of this as being a political novel and had overlooked the science fiction aspect despite it being well known to be set in the future. This aspect was probably the big surprise of the book, and like any other book from the 1950s that's about the future, it's really interesting seeing how people then expected a decade ahead of today to actually be like, what they got right and what they didn't. (The reference to Llyn Tryweryn for example had me flicking back to check when exactly it was written!)
On the more political side, what's really interesting is the finer details of the ideologies in ‘good’ and ‘bad’ 1950s Wales and how they reflect political thought then and now. For example, restrictions on large businesses and lack of urbanisation in the economy being seen as good things – still a view that's hurting Wales today! – idealistic pacifism and completely failing to spot declining religiosity. So while I was familiar with the core message (which was surprisingly unsubtle in the final chapter or two!) the layers of detail really drew me in.
November 21, 2025
Written in 1957, when 2033 seemed very far away, the worst predictions haven't come true. But, it's a truism that SF tends to chose too early a date- consider Back to the Future or Blade Runner, and the warning here remains as true as ever.
The story is witty, engaging and heartbreaking. Ifan Powell travels to the future, finding an independent Wales in 2033, a realistic utopia. There, or then, he falls in love with Mair, but must return to his own time. Traveling forward again, things have changed; Welsh language and culture is extinct, Wales is a police state, and Mair is a very different person.
I can also recommend the Welsh-language original.
The story is witty, engaging and heartbreaking. Ifan Powell travels to the future, finding an independent Wales in 2033, a realistic utopia. There, or then, he falls in love with Mair, but must return to his own time. Traveling forward again, things have changed; Welsh language and culture is extinct, Wales is a police state, and Mair is a very different person.
I can also recommend the Welsh-language original.
September 3, 2025
Unputdownable.
A translation from the original Welsh.
Elis shows amazing insights into possible technologies of the 30th and 21 st centuries.
Quite inspiring.
A recommended read and even better if you can read the orignal Welsh.
A translation from the original Welsh.
Elis shows amazing insights into possible technologies of the 30th and 21 st centuries.
Quite inspiring.
A recommended read and even better if you can read the orignal Welsh.
June 26, 2018
My absolute favorite Welsh novel!
September 11, 2023
I am writing this review in English, as a relatively new learner in Welsh, because it might help other learners to decide on the right time to try this book.
I started to read it halfway through the Sylfaen level course, learning online with Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg. It was recommended by my tutor. I love science fiction and I embarked on the book proper. Oh no! Incomprehensible. But my tutor was actually recommending an annotated version from the series 'Cam at y Cewri' ('A step towards the giants'), developed by Basil Davies and others. This introduces the classics of Welsh literature in an easier format. Phew! I could just about read this annotated version with a dictionary at hand. I read it quite slowly and and struggled a little, but it worth it. It might have been better to wait til I was on the Canolradd level though.
I read it during the pandemic when I was looking for (not always consciously) books that tried to imagine a better society - which this book does, and very well. Well, its a better society that we see to begin with because the time travelling method, ingeniously described, takes the protagonist to a flourishing independent Wales.
Spoiler alert!
So in love is the hero with the successful Wales of the future and a woman whom he meets there, Mair, that, on return to his own time, all he wants to do is go back. It is a much darker Wales he finds on his second trip ... so, how has his desire to escape back to a future utopia changed things? The message being, perhaps, that escaping to a better life- rather than actively working for that better life and staying where you are - is not the best course of action.
I love this book and the Cam at y Cewri series.
I started to read it halfway through the Sylfaen level course, learning online with Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg. It was recommended by my tutor. I love science fiction and I embarked on the book proper. Oh no! Incomprehensible. But my tutor was actually recommending an annotated version from the series 'Cam at y Cewri' ('A step towards the giants'), developed by Basil Davies and others. This introduces the classics of Welsh literature in an easier format. Phew! I could just about read this annotated version with a dictionary at hand. I read it quite slowly and and struggled a little, but it worth it. It might have been better to wait til I was on the Canolradd level though.
I read it during the pandemic when I was looking for (not always consciously) books that tried to imagine a better society - which this book does, and very well. Well, its a better society that we see to begin with because the time travelling method, ingeniously described, takes the protagonist to a flourishing independent Wales.
Spoiler alert!
So in love is the hero with the successful Wales of the future and a woman whom he meets there, Mair, that, on return to his own time, all he wants to do is go back. It is a much darker Wales he finds on his second trip ... so, how has his desire to escape back to a future utopia changed things? The message being, perhaps, that escaping to a better life- rather than actively working for that better life and staying where you are - is not the best course of action.
I love this book and the Cam at y Cewri series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews