Thomas Price (Carnhuanawc)
Encyclopedia
Reverend Thomas Price (known by the bardic name
of Carnhuanawc) was a historian and a major Welsh
literary figure of the early 19th century.
Price was born at Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan near Builth Wells
. In 1805 he went to Brecon grammar school
, living in lodgings until he was able to qualify as a deacon of the Church of England
. He became a curate in Radnorshire
, living at Builth Wells
with his mother. He wrote in both the English
and Welsh language
s. He was a major influence on Lady Charlotte Guest
, whom he assisted in her translation of the Mabinogion
. He was also associated with the work of Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover
, to whom he taught Welsh. Lady Llanover became his patron and brought him to live near her when his health failed.
Price was an advocate of pan-Celticism
. To this end he learnt the Breton language
1824-25 and encouraged the British and Foreign Bible Society
to fund the translation and printing of the Breton Bible
(1827?). He visited Jean-François Le Gonidec
at Angoulême
in 1829 assisting him with the Breton translation.
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 Carnhuanawc) was a historian and a major Welsh
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...
literary figure of the early 19th century.
Price was born at Llanfihangel Bryn Pabuan near Builth Wells
Builth Wells
Builth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley. It has a population of 2,352....
. In 1805 he went to Brecon grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, living in lodgings until he was able to qualify as a deacon of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He became a curate in Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
, living at Builth Wells
Builth Wells
Builth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley. It has a population of 2,352....
with his mother. He wrote in both the 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 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...
s. He was a major influence on Lady Charlotte Guest
Lady Charlotte Guest
Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Guest, , later Lady Charlotte Schreiber, was an English businesswoman and translator...
, whom he assisted in her translation of the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. He was also associated with the work of Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover
Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover
Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover , born Augusta Waddington, was a Welsh heiress, best known as a patron of the Arts in Wales.-Early life:...
, to whom he taught Welsh. Lady Llanover became his patron and brought him to live near her when his health failed.
Price was an advocate of pan-Celticism
Pan-Celticism
Pan-Celticism is the name given to various political and cultural movements and organisations that promote greater contact between the Celtic nations.-Types of Pan-Celticism:Pan-Celticism can operate on one or all of the following levels listed below:...
. To this end he learnt the Breton language
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
1824-25 and encouraged the British and Foreign Bible Society
British and Foreign Bible Society
The British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply as Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world....
to fund the translation and printing of the Breton Bible
Bible translations by language
Bible translations have been made into 2,572+ languages, one of the two Testaments in 1,668 languages, and the full Protestant Canon of the Bible in 457 languages as of May 2011....
(1827?). He visited Jean-François Le Gonidec
Jean-François Le Gonidec
Jean François Marie Le Gonidec de Kerdaniel was a Breton grammarian who codified the Breton language.He played an important role in the history of his native language by initiating a reform of its orthography, producing an orderly grammar and making the first Breton translation of the New Testament...
at Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
in 1829 assisting him with the Breton translation.
Works
- An Essay on the Physiognomy and Physiology of the Present Inhabitants of Britain (1829)
- Hanes Cymru a Chenedl y Cymryo'r Cynoesoedd hyd at Farwolaeth Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (1836-1842)
- The Geographical Progress of Empire and Civilization (1847)
- Literary Remains (1854-55)