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Cymraeg

Tolkien’s knowledge of Welsh – the unpublished evidence

19 May 2011

J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote: "I love Wales…and especially the Welsh language’. Now, a Cardiff University academic has explored Wales’ influence on Tolkien in the first book-length study of his debts to Welsh language and literature.

Tolkien and Wales: Language, Literature and Identity traces the Welsh influences in Tolkien’s scholarly and creative work, paying particular attention to some relatively neglected texts. It will be launched at a free public event this weekend, celebrating Welsh scholarship on Tolkien.

The study’s author, Dr Carl Phelpstead, Reader at the Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy, said: "The book examines a wide range of Tolkien’s published scholarly work and fiction, but I also draw on unpublished manuscripts and on Tolkien’s own collection of Welsh books in order to evaluate the influence of Wales and Welsh on both his writings and on his sense of national identity.

"One of the things that has interested me most in the unpublished material has been the small bits of evidence uncovered about Tolkien’s understanding of spoken – as opposed to written – Welsh."

Relevant material has been taken from some of Tolkien’s unpublished manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, including drafts of his O’Donnell Lecture on ‘English and Welsh’ containing material not in the published version.

Dr Phelpstead also examines annotations handwritten by Tolkien in books on Welsh topics or in Welsh. He said: "These books are now in the English Faculty Library, Oxford. The marginal comments, corrections and other notes provide interesting evidence of the depth of Tolkien’s knowledge of medieval and modern Welsh."

The book will be launched on Saturday 21 May at a special event at Cardiff University’s Bute Building. Dr Phelpstead said: "Books are often launched with a party or drinks reception, but I thought that, given the wide interest in Tolkien’s work, it would be worth combining the book launch with some talks explaining and celebrating the influences of Wales and Welsh on his fiction and scholarship."

The event takes place from 2pm. To book a free place, please email publicbookings@cardiff.ac.uk.

Tolkien and Wales: Language, Literature and Identity is published by the University of Wales Press.

- ENDS-

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Dr Carl Phelpstead
Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy
T: 029 2087 4245
E: PhelpsteadC@cf.ac.uk


Jessica Kelly
Public Relations Office
Cardiff University
T: 029 2087 0298
E: KellyJA@cf.ac.uk