Letters J-S

Some eighty-nine letters, copy and draft letters and related papers, 1932-1952, addressed to J. Dyfnallt Owen or accumulated by him, either from Breton nationalists or relating to the situation in Brittany.
The correspondents include Gildas Jaffrenou, Harlech, 25 March 1947 (f. 1), Cyril Jones, Wrexham, November 1945-May 1947 (ff. 4-28), Youenn Olier, Rennes and Quimper, August-October 1947 (ff. 48-55), Yann-Vari Perrot, Scrignac, June 1932-June 1935 (ff. 70-72), Paul Quentel (or Kentel, alias 'Llydawr'), London and Brittany, August 1945-June 1950 (ff. 16-18, 76-120), the Contesse Vefa de Saint-Pierre, St. Brieuc, 7 October 1952 (f. 123), and Roperzh (or Roparz) Steven, December [1946]-May 1947 (ff. 126-137). Also included are letters from Dyfnallt (ff. 2 verso, 58-62), including three sent to his wife from France, April 1947 (ff. 59-61), and letters from his daughter Meirion, August 1946 (ff. 63-69); one letter from Yann-Vari Perrot, [1930s], is addressed to Geraint Dyfnallt Owen (f. 70). Amongst several copy letters sent by Cyril Jones is one from Fanch Gourvil, dated 25 November 1945 (ff. 12-14), which led to the correspondence in NLW MS 23878E, ff. 90-125.

Geraint Dyfnallt Owen (1908-1993), historian and writer, was the son of poet, writer, journalist, Congregational minister and Archdruid John Dyfnallt Owen ('Dyfnallt'). He was educated at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of Oxford. During the war years he worked for the BBC in London but also served with the armed forces in Rumania. Owen travelled widely in Europe and was particularly interested in the politics and culture of Brittany; he corresponded with the Breton cultural and religious leader Abbé Jean-Marie (Yann-Vari) Perrot and met with many prominent Breton political activists. A prolific writer of historical, political and cultural significance, Owen's published works include Elizabethan Wales (Cardiff, 1962), Rwmania. Pennod mewn gwleidyddiaeth grym (Aberystwyth, 1951), Crisis in Chubut: a chapter in the history of the Welsh colony in Patagonia (Swansea, 1977) and Y blaidd hud a chwedlau eraill (Aberystwyth, 1949), the latter a series of folktales translated from the Rumanian.

Arranged alphabetically by sender at NLW.

Geraint Dyfnallt Owen (1908-1993), historian and writer, was the son of poet, writer, journalist, Congregational minister and Archdruid John Dyfnallt Owen ('Dyfnallt'). He was educated at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of Oxford. During the war years he worked for the BBC in London but also served with the armed forces in Rumania. Owen travelled widely in Europe and was particularly interested in the politics and culture of Brittany; he corresponded with the Breton cultural and religious leader Abbé Jean-Marie (Yann-Vari) Perrot and met with many prominent Breton political activists. A prolific writer of historical, political and cultural significance, Owen's published works include Elizabethan Wales (Cardiff, 1962), Rwmania. Pennod mewn gwleidyddiaeth grym (Aberystwyth, 1951), Crisis in Chubut: a chapter in the history of the Welsh colony in Patagonia (Swansea, 1977) and Y blaidd hud a chwedlau eraill (Aberystwyth, 1949), the latter a series of folktales translated from the Rumanian.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 23879E.

Published