Emyr Humphreys
Encyclopedia
Emyr Humphreys is a leading Welsh
novelist, poet
and author. He was born at Prestatyn
in Flintshire, and attended University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He registered as a conscientious objector
at the outbreak of the Second World War. After the war he worked as a teacher, as a radio producer at the BBC
and later became a lecturer in drama at Bangor University
.
During his long bilingual writing career, he has published over twenty novels, which include such classics as A Toy Epic
(1958), Outside the House of Baal (1965), and The Land of the Living, an epic sequence of seven novels charting the political and cultural history of twentieth-century Wales: Flesh and Blood; The Best of Friends; Salt of the Earth; An Absolute Hero; Open Secrets; National Winner, and Bonds of Attachment. He has also written plays for stage and television, short stories, The Taliesin Tradition (a cultural history of Wales), and published his Collected Poems in 1999.
Among many honours, he was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award
in 1958 for Hear and Forgive, and the Hawthornden Prize
for A Toy Epic the same year. Humphreys won the Wales Book of the Year
Award in 1992 and 1999. Humphreys is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
novelist, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and author. He was born at Prestatyn
Prestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
in Flintshire, and attended University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He registered as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
at the outbreak of the Second World War. After the war he worked as a teacher, as a radio producer at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and later became a lecturer in drama at Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
.
During his long bilingual writing career, he has published over twenty novels, which include such classics as A Toy Epic
A Toy Epic
A Toy Epic is a novel by Welsh author Emyr Humphreys. It was first published in 1958 and won the Hawthornden Prize that year. The novel follows the story of three boys as they grow up in 'one of the four corners of Wales', crossing paths until they eventually become good friends....
(1958), Outside the House of Baal (1965), and The Land of the Living, an epic sequence of seven novels charting the political and cultural history of twentieth-century Wales: Flesh and Blood; The Best of Friends; Salt of the Earth; An Absolute Hero; Open Secrets; National Winner, and Bonds of Attachment. He has also written plays for stage and television, short stories, The Taliesin Tradition (a cultural history of Wales), and published his Collected Poems in 1999.
Among many honours, he was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award
Somerset Maugham Award
The Somerset Maugham Award is a British literary prize given each May by the Society of Authors. It is awarded to whom they judge to be the best writer or writers under the age of thirty-five of a book published in the past year. The prize was instituted in 1947 by William Somerset Maugham and thus...
in 1958 for Hear and Forgive, and the Hawthornden Prize
Hawthornden Prize
The Hawthornden Prize is a British literary award that was established in 1919 by Alice Warrender. Authors are awarded on the quality of their "imaginative literature" which can be written in either poetry or prose...
for A Toy Epic the same year. Humphreys won the Wales Book of the Year
Wales Book of the Year
The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh literary award given annually to the best Welsh and English language works in the fields of fiction and literary criticism by Welsh or Welsh interest authors...
Award in 1992 and 1999. Humphreys is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
.