John Gwilym Jones

{{Distinguish|text=the poet and archdruid {{illm|John Gwilym Jones (poet)|lt=John Gwilym Jones|cy|John Gwilym Jones (bardd)}} (born 1936)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = John Gwilym Jones

| birth_name = John William Jones

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1904|09|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Groeslon, Caernarvonshire

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1988|10|16|1904|09|27|df=y}}

| death_place = Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd

| resting_place = Llandwrog, Gwynedd

| occupation = Dramatist, novelist, short-story writer, drama director, academic, critic

| language = Welsh

| nationality = Welsh

| citizenship = British

| alma_mater = University College of North Wales

| period = 1934–1979

| movement = Modernism

| notable_works = Y Goeden Eirin, Hanes Rhyw Gymro, Ac Eto Nid Myfi, Yr Adduned, Tri Diwrnod ac Angladd

}}

John Gwilym Jones (27 September 1904 – 16 October 1988) was a Welsh dramatist, novelist, short-story writer, drama director, academic and critic, considered a pre-eminent figure in those fields.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} In particular, he is widely acknowledged to be one of the two greatest 20th-century Welsh playwrights, along with Saunders Lewis;{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} of his many plays, Hanes Rhyw Gymro (1964), Ac Eto Nid Myfi (1976) and Yr Adduned (1979) are considered masterpieces.{{sfn|Poplawski|2003|p=442}} Almost all of his work was written in the Welsh language.{{cite web |url=https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/john-gwilym-jones/ |title=John Gwilym Jones |author= |date=2020 |publisher=University of Wales Press |access-date=8 December 2020 }} A writer in the modernist tradition, he is credited with introducing Brechtian techniques, stream-of-consciousness narrative and Freudianism to Welsh literature. Creative writers such as Kate Roberts{{cite book |last1=Morgan |first1=Mihangel |year=2016 |chapter=From Huw Arwystli to Siôn Eirian: representative examples of cadi/queer life from medieval to twentieth-century Welsh literature |editor1-last=Osborne |editor1-first=Huw |title=Queer Wales: The History, Culture and Politics of Queer Life in Wales |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JeyVDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 |location=Cardiff |publisher=University of Wales Press |page=83 |isbn=9781783168637 |access-date=22 November 2020 }} and John Rowlands{{cite news |last=Stephens |first=Meic |author-link=Meic Stephens |date=17 May 2015 |title=John Rowlands: Author who eschewed popular taste in order to explore the human mind and his own inner life |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-rowlands-author-who-eschewed-popular-taste-order-explore-human-mind-and-his-own-inner-life-10256109.html |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=8 December 2020 }} owed him a profound debt, and a whole generation of critics were influenced by his work as a teacher of Welsh literature.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}}

Youth

Jones was born John William Jones on 27 September 1904 in the village of Groeslon, near Caernarfon in north Wales, the only child of Griffith Thomas Jones, a stonemason, and his wife Jane. He was to live in Groeslon for the greater part of his life. He was schooled in Penfforddelen (near Groeslon) and Penygroes,{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} and matriculated at University College of North Wales in 1922. There the scholar Ifor Williams persuaded him to change his middle name to Gwilym.{{sfn|Lewis|1994|p=7}}

Teacher and critic

In 1926 Jones moved to London to take up a teaching post, then returned to Wales to teach in Llandudno (1930–1944), Pwllheli (1944–1948) and Penygroes (1948–1949).{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} In 1953 he took up a post as lecturer, later reader, in the Welsh Department of his old college in Bangor, before finally retiring from academic life in 1971. Two years later the University of Wales awarded him an honorary D.Litt.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} He was an eminent and influential critic, publishing studies on, among other subjects, Daniel Owen, William Williams Pantycelyn, and the arts of writing and criticism.{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}}

Dramatist

While working in London in the 1920s Jones developed an interest in drama and became an avid West End theatregoer. He turned to writing plays, the first two of which to be published were Y Brodyr (1934) and Diofal yw Dim (1942). From 1949 to 1953 he worked for the BBC in Bangor as a producer of radio plays.{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} Some of his own shorter plays were originally intended for radio or television;{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} they are collected in Pedair Drama (1971).{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} He also helped to start up Theatr Fach Eryri, one of the more influential Welsh theatre companies of the 1960s.{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Roger |year=2013 |title=Gwenlyn Parry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TlquBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |location=Cardiff |publisher=University of Wales Press |page=13 |isbn=9780708326626 |access-date=8 December 2020 }}{{cite thesis |last=Hughes |first=Llio |date=2019 |title=Rhwng Gwrthryfel a Gwacter: Agweddau ar y Theatr Gymraeg, 1945–79 |type=PhD |page=12 |url=https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/files/26337263/Hughes_LM_PhD_2019.pdf |language=Welsh |access-date=8 December 2020 }} As a drama director working with this and other amateur companies he is said to have been very accomplished in drawing out excellent performances from inexperienced actors.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} In 1958 he published two linked plays under the title Lle Mynno'r Gwynt a Gŵr Llonydd, and in 1963 Y Tad a'r Mab, a technically experimental play treating of obsessional family love. Hanes Rhyw Gymro (1964), Jones's only historical drama, dealt with the 17th-century Puritan writer Morgan Llwyd.{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=247}} Cilwg yn Ôl (1965) is a translation of John Osborne's Look Back in Anger,{{sfn|Lewis|1994|p=80}} one of many plays he rendered into Welsh.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} Three one-act plays by Jones were published as Rhyfedd y'n Gwnaed in 1976, and in Jones's own English translation, One Wedding, Two Rooms, Three Friends, were successfully produced off-Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club.{{cite web |url=http://archives.nypl.org/the/21793 |title=Manhattan Theatre Club records 1964-2004 [bulk 1970-1994] |author= |date=2020 |website=The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts |publisher=New York Public Library |access-date=8 December 2020 }}{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} Ac Eto Nid Myfi (1976) has been described as "a masterpiece of the modern Welsh theatre", containing "the quintessence of his philosophy and skill as a dramatist"; its theme is the necessity of every man to come to terms with his environment and culture, the factors which have created him.{{sfn|Stephens|1986|pp=4, 313}} His final play was Yr Adduned (1979).{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}}

Jones was a keen observer of advances in the techniques of contemporary European theatre.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}} He was the first Welsh-language dramatist to entirely reject naturalistic staging and to use alienation techniques.{{sfn|Poplawski|2003|p=442}} His plays display his understanding of the common people of his native Arfon, and of their ways of thinking and speaking.{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Ioan |year=2004 |chapter=Towards national identities: Welsh theatres |editor1-last=Kershaw |editor1-first=Baz |title=The Cambridge History of British Theatre. Volume 3: Since 1895 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rvcGBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA259 |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=257, 259 |isbn=9780521651325 |access-date=8 December 2020 }} His characters are generally intelligent, literate and self-aware.{{sfn|Thomas|2004}}

Novelist and short-story writer

Y Dewis (1942) was Jones's first published novel.{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=313}} It was followed in 1946 by his acclaimed volume of short stories Y Goeden Eirin (translated in 2004 as The Plum Tree and Other Short Prose), which has been called "a milestone in the development of the Welsh short story" for its introduction of Freudianism and stream-of-consciousness narrative to Welsh literature.{{cite web |url=http://www.gwales.com/goto/biblio/en/9781854113535/ |title=Gwales Review |last=Roberts |first=Dewi |date=n.d. |website=Gwales |publisher=Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru/Books Council of Wales |access-date=5 December 2020 }}{{sfn|Stephens|1986|p=217}} His second novel, Tri Diwrnod ac Angladd (1979), is said to be the more impressive of the two. It deals with the complications of family life, and makes much use of symbolism.{{cite book |last=Rowlands |first=John |author-link=John Rowlands (author) |chapter=Welsh prose literature [3] the novel |year=2006 |editor1-last=Koch |editor1-first=John T. |editor1-link=John T. Koch |title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA1323 |location=Santa Barbara, California |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=1783 |isbn=1851094407 |access-date=8 December 2020 }}{{sfn|Thomas|2004}}

Published works

All are in Welsh unless otherwise stated.

{{cite book |date=1935 |title=Y Brodyr: Drama Tair Act |location=Liverpool |publisher=Hugh Evans a'i Feibion }} Play
{{cite book |date=1937 |title=Cymru Rydd: Braslun o Bolisi'r Blaid Genedlaethol |location=Caernarfon |publisher=Swyddfa'r Blaid }} Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru political pamphlet
English translation: {{cite book |date=n.d. |title=The New Wales: Synopsis of the Policy of the Welsh Nationalist Party |location=Caernarfon |publisher=Swyddfa'r Blaid }}
{{cite book |date=1942 |title=Y Dewis |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee }} Novel
{{cite book |date=1942 |title=Diofal Yw Dim |location=Caerdydd |publisher=John Gwilym Jones }} Play
{{cite book |date=1946 |title=Y Goeden Eirin |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee }} Short stories
English translation: {{cite book |translator-last1=Stephens |translator-first1=Meic |translator-link1=Meic Stephens |date=2004 |title=The Plum Tree and Other Short Prose |location=Bridgend |publisher=Seren |isbn=1854113534 }}
{{cite book |date=1958 |title=Lle Mynno'r Gwynt; A Gŵr Llonydd: Dwy Ddrama |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee }} Two plays
{{cite book |date=1963 |title=Y Tad a'r Mab: Drama |location=Aberystwyth |publisher=Gwasg y Gler }} Play
2nd edition: {{cite book |date=1970 |title=Y Tad a'r Mab: Drama |location=Llandysul |publisher=Gwasg Gomer }}
{{cite book |date=1964 |title=Hanes Rhyw Gymro |location=Bangor |publisher=Cyhoeddir gan Gymdeithas y Cymric a Chymdeithas y Ddrama Gymraeg, Coleg y Brifysgol }} Play
{{cite book |date=1969 |title=Goronwy Owen's Virginian Adventure: His Life, Poetry, and Literary Opinions, with a Translation of His Virginian Letters |location=Williamsburg, VA |publisher=Botetourt Bibliographical Society }} Lecture, in Welsh with English translation
{{cite book |date=1969 |title=William Williams Pantycelyn |location=Caerdydd |publisher=Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru |isbn=090076807X }} Critical study, in Welsh and English parallel text
{{cite book |date=1970 |title=Daniel Owen: Astudiaeth |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee |isbn=0900996293 }} Critical study
{{cite book |date=1971 |title=Pedair Drama |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee |isbn=0707400414 }} Four plays: Pry Ffenast, Yr Oedfa, Hynt Peredur, and A Barcud yn Farcud Fyth
{{cite book |date=1976 |title=Rhyfedd y'n Gwnaed: Tair Drama |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee |isbn=0707400988 }} Three plays: Tri chyfaill, Dwy Ystafell, and Un Briodas
{{cite book |date=1976 |title=Nofelydd Yr Wyddgrug; The Novelist from Mold |location=Denbigh |publisher=Bwyllgor Ystafell Goffa Daniel Owen |isbn=0950559709 }} Lecture, in Welsh and English, on Daniel Owen
{{cite book |date=1976 |title=Ac Eto Nid Myfi: Drama Dair Act |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee |isbn=070740097X }} Play
{{cite book |date=1976 |title=Ymweliad yr Hen Foneddiges: Comedi Drasig, mewn Tair Act |location=Caerdydd |publisher=Wasg Prifysgol Cymru |isbn=0708306306 }} Translation by John Gwilym Jones of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play Der Besuch der alten Dame
{{cite book |date=1977 |title=Crefft y Llenor |location=Dinbych |publisher=Gwasg Gee |isbn=9780000671202 }} Critical study
{{cite book |date=1979 |title=Yr Adduned |location=Llandysul |publisher=Gwasg Gomer |isbn=0850885124 }} Play
{{cite book |date=1979 |title=Tri Diwrnod ac Angladd |location=Llandysul |publisher=Gwasg Gomer |isbn=0850886023 }} Novel
{{cite book |date=1980 |title=Yr Arwr yn y Theatr |location=Bangor |publisher=Cymdeithas Theatr Cymrutad }} Critical study
{{cite book |date=1986 |title=Ar Draws ac ar Hyd |location=Caernarfon |publisher=Gwasg Gwynedd |isbn=0000773492 }} Memoirs, edited by Gwenno Hywyn

References

Sources

{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=William R. |date=1994 |title=John Gwilym Jones |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0JViAAAAMAAJ |location=Cardiff |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=0708312519 |access-date=4 December 2020 }}
{{cite book |year=2003 |editor1-last=Poplawski |editor1-first=Paul |title=Encyclopedia of Literary Modernism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1OpUU_ShWvsC |location=Westport, CT |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=0313310173 |access-date=6 December 2020 }}
{{cite book |year=1986 |editor1-last=Stephens |editor1-first=Meic |editor1-link=Meic Stephens |title=The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P51iAAAAMAAJ |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0192115863 |access-date=3 December 2020 }}
{{Cite ODNB|first=Gwyn |last=Thomas |author-link=Gwyn Thomas (poet) |year=2004 |id=61278 |title=Jones, John Gwilym }}

Category:1904 births

Category:1988 deaths

Category:20th-century British dramatists and playwrights

Category:20th-century British short story writers

Category:20th-century scholars

Category:20th-century British translators

Category:20th-century Welsh novelists

Category:Academics of Bangor University

Category:BBC radio producers

Category:People from Llandwrog

Category:Translators to Welsh

Category:Welsh-language novelists