As we continue to consider Welsh-language poetry from the nineteenth century, we note first that the opinion of later scholars is generally very negative about it. We thus ask: is most of the period’s poetry sentimental rubbish and dry, overly religious work?
We go on to discuss ‘the literature-loving old vicars’, Anglicans who promoted Welsh culture energetically. We focus on one of them, John Jenkins (1770-1829) or ‘Ifor Ceri’, and two poets who received patronage in the ‘court’ of this ‘Ifor Hael’ (Generous Ifor). We read a little of the work of the multi-talented Evan Evans (1795-1855) or ‘Ieuan Glan Geirionydd’, beginning with the dramatic mournful baled, ‘The Massacre of Morfa Rhuddlan’. Defining the ‘lyric’ in passing, we look at one of Ieuan’s most popular poems, ‘The Llanrwst Free School’. When we discuss John Blackwell (1797-1840) or ‘Alun’, Jerry Hunter is especially pleased when Richard Wyn Jones realises that he is familiar with the poem in question after all!
Presented by: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a’r Athro Richard Wyn Jones
Produced by: Richard Martin ar gyfer Mimosa Cymru
Music: ‘Might Have Done’ gan The Molenes
Further Reading:
- Bedwyr Lewis Jones, Yr Hen Bersoniaid Llengar (Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru, 1963).
- John Blackwell (Alun), Cathl i’r Eos a Cherddi Eraill (Melin Bapur, 2025)
Alaw, ‘Baled Morfa Rhuddlan’: • Baled Y Morfa Rhuddlan