Welsh Journals

Further Opinions on "Wales" (Continued from Back Cover) The second number confirms the good impression made by the first. Much that is interesting in Anglo-Welsh literary work finds expression here. There is an excellent article by H. Idris Bell on The classical tradition in Welsh poetry' and a critical and enlightening study of W. H. Davies, called Simplicity in poetry,' by Huw Menai. Building in Welsh,' by Clough Williams-Ellis, pays attention to the architectural poverty of Wales, and Arthur Giardelli writes on Cedric Morris, whose pictures are now being shown in Wales by C.E.M.A. One must congratulate Mr. Rhys on thus dealing with architecture and painting, which are subjects commonly neglected in Welsh cultural matters. Again. there is some promising verse. Dylan Thomas's commentary' for a documentary film, is poetry, and sound poetry, too." — "MANCHESTER Guardian" (M. C.), 16th December, 1943. The revival of the quarterly magazine, Wales, is an event of more than ordinary interest. One cannot escape the impression that at last Wales has a journal which should have a wide influence on Welsh thought, wider than any existing journal, an influence that is likely to be felt in literary, social, and political fields. It is sufficient indication of its literary standard to mention that Rhys Davies, Clough Williams-Ellis, Huw Menai, and Dr. H. Idris Bell are among the many writers in the current number. Its inspiration is solely Welsh without the mark of parochialisms. It is daring without shedding its judgment. Some have already seen this magazine as evidence of a Welsh renaissance, and while first enthusiasms are dangerous there is certainly some justification for this view, especially when one observes developments in other spheres. The magazine shows the intellectual wealth which Wales possesses among her sons well known outside her own borders, and when this can be unified to a purpose, it can have powerful influences. It is worth noting the attention which this new magazine has already received in America, where our best writers should strive to make the Welsh-and British -outlook better known." THE LIVERPOOL ECHO" (Cymric Causerie-A Welsh Literary Renaissance), December 10, 1943. Daeth ail rifyn Wales o'r wasg-yn helaeth, yn ddawnus, yn amrywiol ac yn bryfodyd. Yn wir rhoddir cryn sylw i'r Cenedlaetholwyr yn y rhifyn hwn-o'r tri hysbysiad i lythyr diddorol a geirwir iawn gan John Legonna. Ail-adeiladwn o'r sylfeini, meddai Mr. Gwynfor Evans yn ei erthygl." Y CYMRO" (John Aelod Jones), Rhagfyr 4, 1943. Keidrych Rhys's Anglo-Welsh magazine, Wales, suspended at the outbreak cf war, is back again In fact, the second number is now on sale, as varied and provocative as ever. At last he has managed to get more paper allowed him, thus ending, or reducing, a scandal which should never have been allowed in the first place, considering the amount of paper allowed for literary trash with which our bookstalls are crammed these days. To make the restoration of worth-while Welsh magazines ccmplete. it only remains for Heddiw to come back. — "Reynolds NEWS," (David Raymond), Jan. 2, 1944, In its new form the journal is more serious-minded and substantial. In his introductory notes the editor propounds a number of questions, literary, cultural, econcmic, and political, to which answers may be expected in future numbers. Wyn Griffith, Vernon Watkins, Alun Lewis, and John Prichard are all good, and Dr. Bell's translation of Llywarch Hen's Gwen stanzas is memorable. Of the stories, Angel Face,' by Ken Francis, and Cam-Vaughan's Shoot,' by Nigel Heseltine, are the most exciting. Mr. Jim Griffiths makes some useful points in Wales after the War,' and John Cowper Powys writes with typical enthusiasm of pre-Celtic Welsh Aboriginals.' There is ample room for a journal of this kind, and writers in plenty to support it. It should meet with a warm welcome and deserves support." — "The TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT." The Second Number of the new edition of Wales is now available. We should like to take this opportunity of extending our heartiest congratulations to the editor, Mr. Keidrych Rhys, for his great efforts and triumph in securing the republication of this Welsh magazine. There is an urgent need for a leading magazine dealing with Wales and Welsh problems." THE WELSH NATIONALIST," January, 1944. Gur ieuanc o Llangadog-Keidrych Rhys, yw golygydd Wales. Y mae Rhifyn 2 fel Bord Gron Arthur wedi galw marchogion awen a lien at ei gilydd o llawer man. Gwyr ieuanc a chymharol ieuanc yw'r ysgrifenwyr, a cheir yn y rhifyn gasgliad nodedig o ddoniau amryw, a phob un yn ei fynegi'i hun yn ddilyfetheir. Y mae nwyd a golau a Ham yn y mynegiant. Llwyddodd y Golygydd i ddenu goleuadau disglair at ei wasanaeth. Y mae'r safbwyntiau a'r datganiadau yn ddigon pryfoclyd i fod yn ysbardyn i'r mwyaf dof ei feddwl. Cytunwn yn rhwydd y rhaid wrth gyfrwng y Saesneg i ddehongli enaid ac athrylith Cymry i'r Saeson, a gwna Wales wasanaeth eithriadol yn y cyfeiriad hwn." Y TYST (Dyfnallt), lonavir 20, 1944.