Moelona
Encyclopedia
Moelona was the pen-name of Elizabeth Mary Jones (née Owen) (21 June 1877 – 5 June 1953), a Welsh
novelist and translator who wrote novels for children and other works in Welsh
.
She was born at Rhydlewis, Ceredigion
, the youngest of thirteen children, on a farm called "Moylon", hence her choice of pseudonym. She went to school at Rhydlewis, one of her schoolmates being Caradoc Evans
. In 1890 she became a pupil-teacher, the need to care for her widowed father preventing her from obtaining any tertiary education. She went on to teach at elementary schools in various parts of Wales until her marriage, in 1917, to a Baptist minister, John Tywi Jones.
Moelona had written her first novel for an eisteddfod in 1907 but it was not published until 1918. As a result of joining a British-French Society in Cardiff
, she had become acquainted with the works of Alphonse Daudet
, several of which she translated for Welsh-language periodicals. Her husband was also a writer, and encouraged her in her writing career by making her the children's columnist on Y Darian, a periodical which he edited.
In her novel Bugail y Bryn she evokes the Welsh dialect of North Pembrokeshire, with an explanatory note (before page 1) of the most common distinctive features.
"Moelona" was an active participant in the eisteddfod movement, and the couple lived in New Quay
, Ceredigion, from 1935 until their respective deaths in 1949 and 1953. They had no children.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
novelist and translator who wrote novels for children and other works in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
She was born at Rhydlewis, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, the youngest of thirteen children, on a farm called "Moylon", hence her choice of pseudonym. She went to school at Rhydlewis, one of her schoolmates being Caradoc Evans
Caradoc Evans
David Caradoc Evans , was a Welsh story writer, novelist and playwright. Caradoc met and later married the Countess Helene Marguerite Barcynska, who wrote romantic novels under the name Oliver Sandys...
. In 1890 she became a pupil-teacher, the need to care for her widowed father preventing her from obtaining any tertiary education. She went on to teach at elementary schools in various parts of Wales until her marriage, in 1917, to a Baptist minister, John Tywi Jones.
Moelona had written her first novel for an eisteddfod in 1907 but it was not published until 1918. As a result of joining a British-French Society in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, she had become acquainted with the works of Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was the father of Léon Daudet and Lucien Daudet.- Early life :Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune...
, several of which she translated for Welsh-language periodicals. Her husband was also a writer, and encouraged her in her writing career by making her the children's columnist on Y Darian, a periodical which he edited.
In her novel Bugail y Bryn she evokes the Welsh dialect of North Pembrokeshire, with an explanatory note (before page 1) of the most common distinctive features.
"Moelona" was an active participant in the eisteddfod movement, and the couple lived in New Quay
New Quay
New Quay is a seaside town in Ceredigion, West Wales with a resident population of around 1,200 people. Located on Cardigan Bay with a harbour and large sandy beaches, it remains a popular seaside resort and traditional fishing town.-History:...
, Ceredigion, from 1935 until their respective deaths in 1949 and 1953. They had no children.
Works
- Teulu Bach Nantoer (1913)
- Bugail y Bryn (1917)
- Rhamant y Rhos (1918)
- Cwrs y Lli (1927)
- Breuddwydion Myfanwy (1928)
- Beryl (1931)
- Ffynnonloyw (1939)