D. Gwenallt Jones facts for kids

David James Jones (born May 18, 1899 – died December 24, 1968) was a very important Welsh poet, critic, and scholar. He is known by his special bardic name, Gwenallt. He got this name by changing the letters around from Alltwen, a village near where he was born. Gwenallt was one of the most important writers in the Welsh language during the 1900s.

Early Life and Challenges

Gwenallt was born in Pontardawe, Glamorganshire. He was the oldest son of Thomas Jones and Mary Jones. When World War I was happening in 1917, he was asked to join the Army. However, Gwenallt said he was a conscientious objector. This means he refused to fight in the war because of his strong beliefs.

Because of this, he was put in prison at Wormwood Scrubs. Later, he was moved to a work center at the old Dartmoor Prison. He stayed there until April 1919. This experience was very important to him. He wrote about it in his 1934 book, Plasau'r Brenin.

In 1919, he started studying at University College Wales, Aberystwyth. There, he met another writer named Idwal Jones. Gwenallt later wrote a book about Idwal Jones's life in 1958.

A sad event in his early life was when his father died in a tin factory accident. This deeply affected Gwenallt. Even though he grew up in an industrial area, he also spent a lot of time in the countryside. He often visited relatives in Rhydcymerau in Carmarthenshire, which also influenced him.

Winning Awards and Teaching Career

Gwenallt was a very talented poet. In 1926, he won the famous Chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Swansea for his poem, Y Mynach. He won the Chair again in 1931 at Bangor for his poem, Breuddwyd y Bardd (which means "The Poet's Dream").

After finishing his studies at Aberystwyth, where he earned a BA degree in Welsh and English, he became a teacher. He taught Welsh at Barry County School. In 1927, he became a lecturer in the Welsh language department at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He later earned his MA degree in 1929. In 1967, he received an honorary D.Litt. from the University of Wales.

Gwenallt was also one of the people who helped start the Welsh Academy (Academi Gymraeg). He was the first editor of their magazine, Taliesin, from 1961 to 1965.

Beliefs and Legacy

When he was young, Gwenallt often went to chapel. Later, he became interested in Marxism, which is a political idea about how society should be organized. But over time, his ideas changed again. He became a Welsh nationalist, meaning he strongly supported Wales and its culture. He also became a Christian poet, and Christian ideas are found in many of his works. He was one of the first members of a Welsh political party called Plaid Cymru.

One of his poems, Y Coed, was published after he visited the Holy Land. This poem also shows his Christian beliefs.

Gwenallt passed away in 1968 and is buried in Aberystwyth. In 1997, a special plaque was placed on his house, Rhydymôr, in Penparcau, near Aberystwyth, to remember him.

Works

Novels

• Plasau'r Brenin 1934
• Ffwrneisiau 1982

Poetry

• Ysgubau'r Awen 1939
• Cnoi Cil 1942
• Eples 1951
• Gwreiddiau 1959
• Y Coed 1969
• Cerddi Gwenallt: Y Casgliad Cyflawn 2001 (This is a collection of all his poems, put together by Christine James and published by Gomer)

Other Writings

• (editor), Yr Areithiau Pros (1934)
• (editor), Blodeugerdd o'r Ddeunawfed Ganrif (1936)
• (editor), Detholiad o Ryddiaith Gymraeg R. J. Derfel (1945)
• Bywyd a Gwaith Islwyn (1948)
• Cofiant Idwal Jones (1958)