Grammar and Poetry in Late Medieval and Early Modern Wales: The Transmission and Reception of the Welsh Bardic Grammars

The medieval Welsh bardic grammars were composed and transmitted during a period of intense social and political change in Wales. They were recopied and revised by bards, bureaucrats, antiquarians, humanists, and readers and reciters of poetry, serving as practical handbooks, official regulatory documents, and attempts to realign the Welsh texts with contemporary Latin and English scholarship. This book offers insight into the development of Welsh bardic and scholarly practices over the course of two centuries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2024
Publisher: University of Wales Press

The medieval Welsh bardic grammars, penned and disseminated during a period of profound social and political transformation in Wales, emerged as a unique blend of Latinate language description and strict poetic meter treatment. Initially conceived as vernacular artes poetriae, these texts underwent numerous recopies and revisions throughout the early fourteenth to the late sixteenth century, driven by the efforts of bards, bureaucrats, antiquarians, humanists, and poetry readers and reciters. Serving various purposes at different times, they acted as practical handbooks, official regulatory documents, and endeavors to align Welsh texts with contemporary Latin and English scholarship. This comprehensive book delves into a meticulous textual analysis of these revisions, while also exploring the historical contexts that shaped each subsequent version. The resulting narrative provides a profound insight into the evolution of Welsh bardic and scholarly practices over a span of two centuries, shedding light on the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural heritage that flourished in medieval Wales.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 138 x 217 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837720996