Manuscripts
Manuscript:
Cardiff, Central Library, MS 2.81 = Llyfr Aneirin
- s. xiii2
Jones, Nerys Ann [ed.], Arthur in Welsh poetry, MHRA Library of Medieval Welsh Literature, 4, Cambridge: Modern Humanities Research Association, 2019.
abstract:
For over a thousand years, Arthur has had widespread appeal and influence like no other literary character or historical figure. Yet, despite the efforts of modern scholars, the earliest references to Arthurian characters are still shrouded in uncertainty. They are mostly found in poetic texts scattered throughout the four great compilations of early and medieval Welsh literature produced between 1250 and 1350. Whilst some are thought to predate their manuscript sources by several centuries, many of these poems are notoriously difficult to date. None of them are narrative in nature and very few focus solely on Arthurian material but they are characterised by an allusiveness which would have been appreciated by their intended audiences in the courts of princes and noblemen the length and breadth of Wales. They portray Arthur in a variety of roles: as a great leader of armies, a warrior with extraordinary powers, slayer of magical creatures, rescuer of prisoners from the Otherworld, a poet and the subject of prophecy. They also testify to the possibility of lost tales about him, his father, Uthr, his son, Llachau, his wife, Gwenhwyfar, and one of his companions, Cai, and associate him with a wide array of both legendary and historical figures. Arthur in Early Welsh Poetry, the fourth volume in the MHRA Library of Medieval Welsh Literature series, provides discussion of each of the references to Arthurian characters in early Welsh poetic sources together with an image from the earliest manuscript, a transliteration, a comprehensive edition, a translation (where possible) and a word-list. The nine most significant texts are interpreted in more detail with commentary on metrical, linguistic and stylistic features.
[2] “The Book of Aneirin”
Schumacher, Stefan, “An edition and analysis of Book of Aneirin B.39 (including preliminary chapters on the grammar and poetics of early Welsh poetry)”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 64 (2017): 299–420.
Isaac, Graham R., Simon Rodway, Silva Nurmio, Kit Kapphahn, and Patrick Sims-Williams [eds.], Rhyddiaith Gymraeg o lawysgrifau’r 13eg ganrif: fersiwn 2, Aberystwyth: Aberystwyth University, Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies, 2013. Computer file.
Isaac, Graham R., “The verb in the Book of Aneirin: addenda and corrigenda”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 56 (2008): 119–128.
Isaac, Graham R. [ed.], and Simon Rodway [ed.], Rhyddiaith Gymraeg o lawysgrifau’r 13eg ganrif: testun cyflawn, Aberystwyth: University of Wales Press, 2002. CD-ROM.
Transcriptions of Welsh-language texts from 13th-century Welsh manuscripts, transcribed by G. R. Isaac and Simon Rodway, with assistance from Ingo Mittendorf, Brynley F. Roberts and D. Mark Smith. New versions were published online in 2010 and 2013.
Isaac, Graham R., The verb in the Book of Aneirin: studies in syntax, morphology and etymology, Buchreihe der Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, 12, Tübingen: Niemeyer, 1996.
Roberts, Brynley F. (ed.), Early Welsh poetry: studies in the Book of Aneirin, Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales, 1988. 212 pp.
A collection of essays that were previously presented at a conference held in 1984.
Klar, Kathryn A., Brendan O Hehir, and Eve E. Sweetser, “The components of Cardiff MS. Welsh 1, Llyfr Aneirin”, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 32 (1985): 38–49.
Morgan, Gerald, “The Book of Aneirin and Welsh manuscript prickings”, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 20 (1962–1964): 12–17.
Anwyl, Edward, “The Book of Aneirin”, Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion 1909–1910 (1911): 95–136 + plates.
Welsh Journals Online: <link>
Anscombe, A., “A list of words in the poems in the Book of Aneurin”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 5 (1905): 148–174.
Internet Archive: <link>
Results for Book (171)
Welsh manuscript collection of religious texts, mainly in the hand of Hywel Fychan. Other parts of the original manuscript are in Peniarth MS 12 and Cardiff MS 3.242.
- c.1400
- Hywel Fychan ap Hywel Goch
Welsh paper manuscript miscellany (268 pp.) in the hand of John David Rhys containing Welsh poetry as well as a vocabulary, a bardic grammar of the Dafydd Ddu recension, the so-called statutes of Gruffudd ap Cynan, a translation of Genesis I, items of biblical and historical interest, etc.
- c.1579
- John David Rhys
A late 16th-century transcript of the White Book of Rhydderch
- s. xviex
- s. xv2
- Gutun Owain
The Book of Llandaff is one of the oldest manuscripts of Wales. While its core is a gospelbook containing a copy of St Matthew’s Gospel, it is best known for its many substantial additions in the form of the Lives of St Elgar and St Samson, and various documents (such as charters) relating to the see of Llandaff and to bishops Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy.
- s. xii1
A collection of early Welsh poetry, including religious poems, praise poems and elegies.
- c. 1250
- Black Book of Carmarthen scribe
- s. xiv1
- Book of Taliesin scribe
- c. 1350
- Hywel Fychan ap Hywel Goch
