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School of Welsh

July 2007: Literary essays presented to Professor John Rowlands

The pioneering series of literary essays, Ysgrifau Beirniadol, was first launched in 1965 and it is therefore very apt that the series is relaunched this summer with an issue presented to Professor John Rowlands, one of the most influential and prolific Welsh men of letters during the past forty years and more.

Llun o'r Athro John RowlandsAnd the link with Bangor’s School of Welsh is especially strong for a number of reasons.  It was from Bangor that John Rowlands originally graduated and – after periods spent lecturing at Trinity College, Carmarthen, University of Wales, Lampeter and University of Wales, Aberystwyth – it was to Bangor that he recently returned to teach creative writing to the latest cohort of students from the School of Welsh.

Ysgrifau Beirniadol was edited for years by a former Professor of Welsh at Bangor, the late J. E. Caerwyn Williams, and he is followed by the current editor, Professor Gerwyn Wiliams, who is Head of Welsh at Bangor.

Among the contributors to this festschrift are two former colleagues of John Rowlands in the Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dr Huw Meirion Edwards and Dr T. Robin Chapman, as well as former students of his, Dr Gwenllïan Dafydd, Dr Gwen Gruffudd and Dr Tudur Hallam.  Essays by another two Bangor scholars, Dr Angharad Price and Professor Densil Morgan, appear in the issue and John Rowlands is also interviewed by Elen Mererid Williams who recently gained an MPhil from the School of Welsh.

Ysgrifau Beirniadol XXVII is published by Gwasg Gee (Cyhoeddwyr) Cyf. and will be launched in a celebratory meeting held in Bangor University pavilion at the National Eisteddfod at 12.00 o’clock on Monday, 6 August.