Islwyn Ffowc Elis facts for kids

Islwyn Ffowc Elis (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɪslʊɨn fɔʊk ˈɛlɪs]; 17 November 1924 – 22 January 2004) was one of Wales's most popular writers who wrote in the Welsh-language. He was known for trying out many different styles in his stories.

Early Life and Education

Islwyn Ffowc Elis was born as Islwyn Ffoulkes Ellis in Wrexham, Wales. He grew up in a place called Glyn Ceiriog. He went to college at the University of Wales in Bangor and Aberystwyth.

During World War II, he chose not to fight because of his beliefs. This is called being a conscientious objector. Around this time, he started writing poems and stories. In 1951, he won a special award for his writing at the National Eisteddfod, which is a big Welsh festival.

In 1950, he became a minister in the Presbyterian church. His first church was in Llanfair Caereinion. He also translated a part of the Bible, the Gospel of Matthew, into modern Welsh. This book was published in 1961.

Becoming a Famous Writer

Islwyn Ffowc Elis became a novelist in 1953 with his book Cysgod y Cryman. This title means Shadow of the Sickle in English. This book was very important. In fact, in 1999, people chose it as the most important Welsh language book of the 20th century!

Exploring Different Story Styles

Elis loved to try new things with his writing. He wrote many different kinds of novels. After Cysgod y Cryman, he wrote Ffenestri tua'r Gwyll (Windows to the Dusk) in 1955.

He also wrote a follow-up to Cysgod y Cryman called Yn ôl i Leifior (1956). This means Return to Lleifior in English. Both of these stories take place on a made-up farm called Lleifior.

In 1957, he wrote a time travel story for the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru. It was called Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd (A Week in Future Wales). This story imagined what Wales might be like in the year 2033. It showed a free and perfect Wales, and a not-so-good "Western England."

He continued to write unique books like Blas y Cynfyd (A Taste of Prehistory, 1958) and Tabyrddau'r Babongo (Drums of the Babongo, 1961). This last one was a story that made fun of colonial ideas.

Islwyn Ffowc Elis was a pioneer. He brought new types of stories to Welsh readers. He wrote in a way that was easy to read and often set his stories in modern times. He helped make novels a very important part of Welsh-language literature. For some time, he even tried to make a living just from writing, which was very rare in modern Wales.

Later Works and Contributions

Some of his later books include Y Blaned Dirion (The Meek Planet, 1968), which was another science fiction novel. He also wrote Y Gromlech yn yr Haidd (The Dolmen in the Barley, 1971) and Eira Mawr (Great Snow, 1972).

Besides novels, he wrote a play, short articles, hundreds of essays, and short stories. He also helped edit a book called Welsh Short Stories for the Oxford University Press in 1956. His work has been translated into other languages like English, German, Italian, and Irish. From 1975 to 1988, he taught at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Involvement in Politics

From his school days until the mid-1970s, Islwyn Ffowc Elis spent a lot of time on politics. He ran for election as a candidate for the Plaid Cymru party in Montgomeryshire. He ran in the general elections of 1959 and 1964, and in a special election in 1962.

There's a famous piece of graffito on a rock next to the A44 road in Ceredigion. It's called the "Elvis Rock". This writing was originally "Elis" and was put there by two of his supporters during the 1962 election. Later, someone changed it to say "Elvis."

Recognition and Legacy

After he retired, the University of Wales gave him a special degree called a DLitt. In 1999, a book about Islwyn Ffowc Elis was published by T Robin Chapman. It came out in both Welsh and English.

In 2021, his novel Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd was published in English as A Week in Future Wales. It was translated by Stephen Morris in 2019.