Historiography and Identity: Drych y Prif Oesoedd
With this episode we bring the second series of Yr Hen Iaith to an end, and we do that by discussing an incredibly influential book which Theophilus Evans published in 1740. Drych y Prif Oesoedd [The Mirror of the Earliest Centuries] was first published in 1716, but the author worked to expand the work considerably and republish it 24 years later, and this is the version which is considered to be a classic. The word prif in the title means ‘earliest’; this is a book which treats the early history of the Welsh – or the Ancient Britons – and it relates that history in an exciting narrative style. When considering Welsh-language prose, it’s difficult to think of a more important book published between the start of the 18th century and the development of the Welsh novel more than a century later. It is also extremely important in the context of Welsh identity; this is a book which uses history to tell the Welsh who they are.
Note: Yr Hen Iaith won’t be sleeping! A message will soon be released about a special series which will be broadcast between the end of this series and the start of series 3.
Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a’r Athro Richard Wyn Jones