J. E. Caerwyn Williams
Encyclopedia
J. E. Caerwyn Williams FBA (17 January 1912 – 10 June 1999), was a Welsh scholar. His fields of study included the literatures of the Celtic languages
, especially Welsh and Irish literature
. He has published books in both English
and Welsh
.
Caerwyn Williams was born in Gwauncaegurwen
, Glamorgan
in 1912 into a coal-mining family. He studied at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and graduated in Latin
in 1933 and in Welsh
in 1934. He then studied further at University College, Dublin
and Trinity College, Dublin. Intending to become a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales
he studied at the United Theological College, Aberystwyth
and graduated BD
in 1944. In 1945 he was appointed to teach at the Department of Welsh at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and became professor of Welsh in 1953. He remained in that post until his appointment as professor of Irish
at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
in 1965, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1978.
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
, especially Welsh and Irish literature
Irish literature
For a comparatively small island, Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to world literature. Irish literature encompasses the Irish and English languages.-The beginning of writing in Irish:...
. He has published books in both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Welsh
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...
.
Caerwyn Williams was born in Gwauncaegurwen
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is a village in Neath Port Talbot, south Wales. Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen is also a parish made up of the electoral wards of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and Lower Brynamman.-Location:...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
in 1912 into a coal-mining family. He studied at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and graduated in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
in 1933 and in Welsh
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...
in 1934. He then studied further at University College, Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and Trinity College, Dublin. Intending to become a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales
Presbyterian Church of Wales
The Presbyterian Church of Wales , also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church , is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. It was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the preaching of Hywel Harris Howell Harris in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811...
he studied at the United Theological College, Aberystwyth
United Theological College Aberystwyth
The United Theological College located in Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in mid Wales was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and an associate college of the University of Wales...
and graduated BD
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1944. In 1945 he was appointed to teach at the Department of Welsh at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and became professor of Welsh in 1953. He remained in that post until his appointment as professor of Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
in 1965, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1978.
Selected bibliography
- Traddodiad llenyddol Iwerddon (=The literary tradition of Ireland) (1958), later translated into English as The Irish literary tradition (1992)
- The Poems of TaliesinTaliesinTaliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
(Mediaeval & Modern Welsh) (editor, with Ifor WilliamsIfor WilliamsSir Ifor Williams was a Welsh scholar who laid the foundations for the academic study of Old Welsh, particularly early Welsh poetry....
, 1968) - Literature in Celtic Countries (1971)
- Y storïwr Gwyddelig a'i chwedlau (=The Irish story-teller and his tales) (1972)
- Poets of the Welsh Princes (Writers of Wales S.) (1978)
- Ysgrifau Beirniadol (=Critical writings) (1965- ) Founding editor of the series of volumes of critical essays mainly on Welsh-language literature.