Dafydd ap Gwilym

Dafydd ap Gwilym is the most prolific and famous of medieval Welsh poets and perhaps the greatest Welsh poet of all time. In his work he portrays himself as a not too successful lover, a joker, story-teller and a profound observer of the brevity of human life, while his innovative language, subject-matter and poetic technique gave a new dimension to Welsh poetry. Gwyn Thomas provides an accessible English translation of Dafydd ap Gwilym's complete poems which aims not only to give an accurate rhythmic version of the meaning of the Welsh text but also to suggest the complex orchestration of the original material. The poems are annotated to bring out their historical and literary context and the translation is prefaced by an introduction to the poet and his work. This edition of the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym will appeal to all those interested in Welsh literature and the literature of the middle ages. It presents a poet who not only integrated European ideas of courtly love with the Welsh bardic tradition, but who, in his depiction of the pursuit of love and his celebration of nature, defines himself as a fascinating individual figure in an age of heavy conventions.