Geraint Bowen (poet)

Dr. Geraint Bowen (10 September 1915 – 16 July 2011) was a Welsh language poet and academic.

Born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, he was the son of Thomas (Orchwy) Bowen , 
the brother of the poet Euros Bowen and nephew of the Carmarthenshire minister David Bowen. 

From grammar school at Aberaeron, he went on to study at University College, Cardiff. After graduating in 1938, he went on to take an MA in Celtic Studies at the University of Liverpool. Bowen's doctoral thesis was a study of recusant literature in south-east and north-east Wales, and he wrote extensively on this subject and other aspects of Welsh religious history during his academic career. Amongst works published by Bowen were an edition of the recusant Robert Gwyn's Gwssanaeth y gwyr newydd (1970), an edition of Y Drych Kristnogawl (1996) and a history of the Welsh Mormons during the nineteenth century, Ar Drywydd y Mormoniaid (1999). Despite his interest in religious literature and history, he was an avowed atheist.

He was an outspoken Welsh nationalist, and during the Second World War became a conscientious objector, working in farming as an alternative to military service. He stood against Labour, as Plaid Cymru candidate for Wrexham in the 1950 General Election. In 1944, he came to live with his parents in New Quay, where Dylan Thomas was temporarily living; it has been speculated that his father Orchwy was the inspiration for the Reverend Eli Jenkins in Under Milk Wood. 

In 1946, Bowen won the bardic chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Mountain Ash, for his "Awdl Foliant i'r Amaethwr", In 1977 he became editor of Y Faner, and from 1978 to 1981 he presided over the Eisteddfod ceremonies as Archdruid. As Archdruid he was heavily involved in the campaign to force the government to create the promised Welsh-language television channel S4C.

He was also a campaigner against the dumping of nuclear waste and was chairman of the campaign group MADRYN () in the early 1980s.

He married the author, translator and activist, , in 1947. They had two sons and two daughters.

Works

Poetry
 Awdl Foliant i'r Amaethwr
 Cân yr Angylion
 T. Gwynn Jones (Y Bardd Celtaidd)
 Cwm Llynor
 Y Drewgoed
 Cywydd y Coroni
 Yr Aran
 Prynhawnddydd
 Dr. Gwenan Jones
 Teyrnged i Gwyndaf
 Cyfarch Bro Myrddin
 Ar Doriad Gwawr
 Branwen

Autobiography
 O Groth y Ddaear (1993)

Books

 Welsh recusant writings published in 1999 in English
 Gwssanaeth y gwyr newydd, 1580 by Robert Gwyn published in 1970 in Welsh 
 Golwg ar Orsedd y Beirdd by Geraint Bowen published in 1992 in Welsh
 Y traddodiad rhyddiaith yn yr ugeinfed ganrif : (darlithiau Dewi Sant)published in 1976 in Welsh
 Y Traddodiad rhyddiaith (darlithiau Rhydychen) published in 1970 in Welsh
 Y Drych Kristnogawl : llawysgrif Caerdydd 3.240 published in 1996 in Welsh
 Y traddodiadd rhyddiaith yn yr Oesau Canol : (darlithiau Dewi Sant)published in 1974 in Welsh
 Y gwareiddiad Celtaidd published in 1987 in Welsh
 Ar drywydd y Mormoniaid : golwg ar hanes y Mormoniaid Cymreig 1840–80 by Geraint Bowen published between 1998 and 1999 in English and Welsh
 Cerddi by Geraint Bowen published in 1984 in English and Welsh
 Atlas Meirionnydd published in 1974 in Welsh
 Bwyd llwy o badell awen : (cwrs ar y gynghanedd) by Geraint Bowen published in 1977 in English and Welsh
 Hanes Gorsedd y Beirdd by Geraint & Zonia Bowen published in 1991 in Welsh
 Ysgrifennu creadigol : darlithiau Taliesin published in 1972 in Welsh
 Y Drych Kristianogawl : astudiaeth by Geraint Bowen published in 1988 in Welsh
 John Morris-Jones : y diwygiwr iaith a llên by Geraint Bowen published in 1989 in Welsh
 W.J. Gruffydd published in 1994 in Welsh
 Mynegai i cerdd dafod : sef celfyddyd barddoniaeth Gymraeg, John Morris-Jones by Geraint Bowen published in 1947 in English and Welsh
 Penllyn by Geraint Bowen published in 1967 in Welsh

References

1915 births
2011 deaths
Welsh-speaking academics
Welsh-language poets
Welsh conscientious objectors
Bards of the Gorsedd
Chaired bards
Welsh Eisteddfod archdruids
Welsh Eisteddfod winners
20th-century Welsh poets