Rhiannon Davies Jones facts for kids

Rhiannon Davies Jones (born November 4, 1921, died October 22, 2014) was a famous Welsh writer. She wrote historical novels in the Welsh language. She was also a lecturer and believed strongly in Welsh identity (a "Welsh nationalist"). Rhiannon went to Bangor University. She won many awards for her writing, including two Prose Medals at the important National Eisteddfod of Wales. She wrote ten novels, often about Welsh history, kings, and princes. Her books sometimes explored her political ideas and reactions to big events.

Discovering Rhiannon Davies Jones

Her Early Life and School Days

Rhiannon Davies Jones was born in Llanbedr, Meirioneth, Wales, on November 4, 1921. Her father, Hugh Davies Jones, was a Baptist minister, and her mother, Laura Jones, was a teacher. Rhiannon was the second child in her family.

When Rhiannon was only two years old, her father passed away. After this, her family moved from Oswestry, Shropshire, to live with her grandmother in Penbont, Llanbedr. She went to primary schools in Llanbedr and Llanfair. Later, she attended Barmouth Grammar School. At this school, her headmaster introduced her to the fascinating history of Christendom.

In 1940, Rhiannon went to University College Bangor. There, she met important Welsh scholars like Ifor Williams and Thomas Parry. She finished her studies in 1945, earning a teaching qualification.

Her Career as a Teacher and Writer

In 1945, Rhiannon started working as a Welsh teacher at Brynhyfryd Grammar School in Rhuthin. It was there that she began her journey as a writer. Friends who loved literature encouraged her. Thomas Parry, a scholar she knew, advised her to choose between writing poetry or prose (like novels), and not to mix them.

In 1963, Rhiannon became a lecturer at a College of Education in Monmouthshire. Two years later, she moved to teach the same subject at Bangor Normal College. She stayed there until she retired in 1983.

Winning Awards for Her Books

Rhiannon won prizes for short novels at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1952 and 1956. These early works were never published.

In 1960, she wrote Fy Hen Lyfr Cownt (which means My Old Account Book). This book was like a fictional diary about the last ten years of the hymn writer Ann Griffiths. This novel won Rhiannon her first Prose Medal at the 1960 National Eisteddfod. This book helped her become a well-known writer.

She won a second Prose Medal in 1964 for her novel Lleian Llan Llŷr (The Nun of Llan Llŷr). This book explored feelings of loss.

Novels About Welsh History and Identity

Rhiannon then wrote Llys Aberffraw (The Court of Aberffraw). This novel was about the granddaughters of Owain Gwynedd, a famous Welsh prince. Rhiannon was a Welsh nationalist, meaning she strongly supported Welsh culture and self-governance. She was inspired to write this book by political events in Wales, including the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales. The novel won an award at the 1973 Anglesey Eisteddfod and was published four years later.

In 1981, Rhiannon wrote Eryr Pengwern (The Eagle of Pengwern). This story was set in the 7th century in Powys, an ancient Welsh kingdom. It was based on the Heledd Saga, an old Welsh poem. She wrote this book in response to political actions by Gwynfor Evans, a Welsh politician, who was fighting for a Welsh television channel (S4C).

Four years later, she wrote Dyddiadur Mari Gwyn (Mari Gwyn’s Diary). This novel was written like a diary and focused on the difficulties faced by Catholics during the time of Elizabeth I. It also featured the Welsh writer Robert Gwyn.

Between 1987 and 1993, Rhiannon wrote a series of three novels. These books were set during the "Age of the Princes" in Wales. The titles were Cribau Eryri (The Ridges of Snowdonia), Barrug y Bore (Morning Frost), and Adar Drycin (Storm Birds). She was inspired to write this series after a vote about more power for Wales failed in 1979. She also wanted to write about the increasing number of people moving into Welsh-speaking areas.

Rhiannon's last novel, Cydio Mewn Cwilsyn (Taking up a Quill), was published in 2002. It was a fictional diary of the daughter of Edmund Prys, a Welsh poet.

Over her lifetime, Rhiannon Davies Jones wrote ten novels. She also published a collection of original nursery rhymes for children.

Rhiannon Davies Jones passed away on October 22, 2014, in Penrhos Stanley Hospital, Holyhead, Anglesey. She had been ill for a long time. She was not married. Her funeral service was held at Penuel Baptist Chapel in Bangor, and she was buried at Salem Baptist Chapel in Llansilin, Denbighshire, on October 30.