Aneirin Talfan Davies
Encyclopedia
Aneirin Talfan Davies was a Welsh
poet, broadcaster and literary critic.
Talfan Davies was brought up in Gorseinon
. During the 1930s Davies worked in London
as a pharmacist
before returning to Wales and settling in Swansea
. He was the brother of Alun Talfan Davies
, with whom he founded the publishing company, Llyfrau'r Dryw (later succeeded by Christopher Davies). Aneirin Talfan Davies, who was known by the bardic name
of Aneurin ap Talfan, also founded the Welsh language
periodicals, Heddiw and Barn
. He was Head of Programmes Wales at the BBC
and produced broadcasts of early works by Dylan Thomas
. Following Dylan's death, he wrote a critical study of Thomas as a religious poet. He also translated the poetry of Christina Rossetti
into Welsh, and edited the letters of David Jones
, whose influence can be discerned throughout his work.
He wrote an anonymous satire in the Western Mail (under the pen name of Theomemphus), to which he was a frequent contributor, following bishop Glyn Simon
's attack on the workings of the Electoral College of the Church in Wales (1961). He was a prominent Anglican and Christian themes characterised much of his writing.
His son, Geraint Talfan Davies
(born 1943) has had many notable positions in Wales, among which he was Controller of BBC Wales
from 1990-2000, and he co-founded Glas Cymru, which acquired the now Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
and turned it into a business run solely for the benefit of customers. He is chairman of the Institute of Welsh Affairs
, which he co-founded, and the Welsh National Opera
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
poet, broadcaster and literary critic.
Talfan Davies was brought up in Gorseinon
Gorseinon
Gorseinon is a town in southwest Wales, near the Loughor estuary. It was a small village until the late 19th century when it grew around the coal mining and tinplate industries. It is situated in the north west of Swansea, around north west of the city centre...
. During the 1930s Davies worked in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
before returning to Wales and settling in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. He was the brother of Alun Talfan Davies
Alun Talfan Davies
Sir Alun Talfan Davies QC was a Welsh lawyer, writer and publisher, the brother of Aneirin Talfan Davies.He was born at Gorseinon near Swansea, brought up a Presbyterian, and educated at Gowerton grammar school. He read Law at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and at Gonville and Caius...
, with whom he founded the publishing company, Llyfrau'r Dryw (later succeeded by Christopher Davies). Aneirin Talfan Davies, who was known by the bardic name
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of Aneurin ap Talfan, also founded the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
periodicals, Heddiw and Barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
. He was Head of Programmes Wales at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and produced broadcasts of early works by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
. Following Dylan's death, he wrote a critical study of Thomas as a religious poet. He also translated the poetry of Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti
Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
into Welsh, and edited the letters of David Jones
David Jones (poet)
David Jones CH was both a painter and one of the first generation British modernist poets. As a painter he worked chiefly in watercolor, painting portraits and animal, landscape, legendary and religious subjects. He was also a wood-engraver and designer of inscriptions. As a writer he was...
, whose influence can be discerned throughout his work.
He wrote an anonymous satire in the Western Mail (under the pen name of Theomemphus), to which he was a frequent contributor, following bishop Glyn Simon
Glyn Simon
William Glyn Hughes Simon was the Anglican Archbishop of Wales from 1968 to 1971.Simon was born in Swansea, where his father was curate at St Gabriel's church. He was baptised by David Lewis Prosser, later to become the third Archbishop of Wales....
's attack on the workings of the Electoral College of the Church in Wales (1961). He was a prominent Anglican and Christian themes characterised much of his writing.
His son, Geraint Talfan Davies
Geraint Talfan Davies
Geraint Talfan Davies is chairman and one of the co-founders of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, an independent Welsh think-tank. He is also chairman of Welsh National Opera...
(born 1943) has had many notable positions in Wales, among which he was Controller of BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
from 1990-2000, and he co-founded Glas Cymru, which acquired the now Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
and turned it into a business run solely for the benefit of customers. He is chairman of the Institute of Welsh Affairs
Institute of Welsh Affairs
The Institute of Welsh Affairs is an independent, membership-based think-tank based in the capital of Wales, Cardiff, owing no allegiance to any political or economic interest group...
, which he co-founded, and the Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
.
Works
- Eliot, Pwshcin, Poe (1948)
- Gwyr Llen (1949)
- Blodeugerdd o englynion (1950)
- Crwydro Sir Gar (1955)
- Englynion a Chywyddau (1958)
- Dylan: Druid of the Broken Body (1964)
- Bro Morgannwg (1972)
- Diannerch Erchwyn a Cherddi Eraill (1975)