mail@mhra.org.ukMHRA Library of Medieval Welsh Literature
There is a desperate shortage of edited texts of medieval Welsh poetry and prose for the teaching of Middle Welsh through the medium of English. This series is an attempt to fulfil the need for more material felt by lecturers and students in Celtic departments all over the world. Each volume will contain a short introduction putting the texts in their literary and historical context, a bibliography, the edited texts, textual and grammatical notes and a glossary. The level of difficulty of the texts and the level of assistance given will vary from volume to volume. The series will provide texts from very different literary genres and thus cater for a wide range of students, from the beginner to the advanced.
General Editors
Nerys Ann Jones, University of Edinburgh
Erich Poppe, Philipps-Universität Marburg
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Early Welsh Gnomic and Nature Poetry. £19.99 ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-907322-58-7 Medieval Welsh has a wealth of wisdom poetry comprising natural description, nature-lore and observations on human behaviour, which together appear designed to celebrate the unity of the natural and moral orders. The newly edited texts presented in this volume range from the eleventh to the fifteenth century. The general introduction contains a discussion of the concept and nature of gnomic poetry, comparisons with comparable material in related literatures and suggestions concerning the origins and function of the poetry. Nicolas Jacobs is a former Lecturer in English Language and Literature, University of Oxford. |
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Historical Texts from Medieval Wales. £19.99 ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-907322-60-0 The purpose of this edition is to make available a selection of annotated passages from medieval Welsh historical texts which range from the legendary origin of Britain to the fall of the last native prince. Each section is preceded by a short introduction indicating the source and setting it in its wider context. The general introduction deals with the language, style and historical background of the passages selected. Patricia Williams is a former lecturer at the Department of Celtic Studies, University of Manchester.
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Medieval Welsh Political Poetry. £19.99 ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-907322-72-3 A new edition of 30 medieval Welsh poems dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the classic period of court poetry in the cywydd metre. Divided into topics which include Poets to Patrons, Love, Fantasy and Folk-lore, Humour and Satire and Politics and Prophecy, the poems represent the work of leading cywyddwyr such as Madog Benfras, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Iolo Goch, Tudur Aled and Guto’r Glyn. Anonymous and less well-known poems, many of them unavailable in modern editions, are also represented. Helen Fulton is professor at the Department of English and Related Literature, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York.
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Hystoria Gweryddon yr Almaen: The Middle Welsh Life of St Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins. £19.99 ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-907322-59-4 Medieval Welsh literature is rich in hagiographical lore and numerous Welsh versions of the Lives of saints are extant, recording the legends of both native and universal saints. Although the cult of St Ursula and the 11,000 virgins is well known internationally, this is the first time that a scholarly edition of her Welsh legend has been published in its entirety. Hystoria Gweryddon yr Almaen was adapted into Welsh by Sir Huw Pennant and it survives in a unique manuscript - Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, Peniarth MS 182 (c. 1509x13). The edition is accompanied by a full glossary, as well as detailed linguistic notes and information on the development and transmission of the legend. The peculiarities of the Welsh text will be considered in the introduction as well as the similarities it shares with other versions. The volume will also consider the wider cultural context of the legend and discuss the Welsh cult of St Ursula and her companions. Welsh tradition claims that Ursula was Welsh and she became associated with the church at Llangwyryfon in Ceredigion and other minor Welsh chapels. Jane Cartwright is a Reader and Co-ordinator of the MA in Celtic Studies at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
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A Selection of Early Welsh Saga Poems. £19.99 ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-907322-63-1 The early Welsh saga englynion are in many ways an ideal introduction to reading Medieval Welsh poetry. While there are many early linguistic features, these verses have a relatively straightforward style and generally well-preserved texts. They also have lasting appeal for modern audiences. This volume presents the key poems from the Llywarch Hen cycle and from the story of Heledd, as well as ‘Llym Awel’, a less well-known poem with similar themes and highlighting the use of nature description and gnomes. Each poem has full grammatical notes, and there is a complete glossary. The narrative context, language and main metrical features are covered in the introduction and notes. Jenny Rowland is a Senior Lecturer in the College of Arts & Celtic Studies, University College Dublin.
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