Gwyn Thomas

Who is Gwyn Thomas?

Professor Gwyn Thomas is a Welsh poet, academic and a former National Poet of Wales.

Born in Tanygrisiau, Gwynedd, and brought up there and in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Thomas was educated at Ysgol Sir Ffestiniog, University of Wales, Bangor and Jesus College, Oxford; Prof Thomas is presently Emeritus Professor of Welsh at the University of Wales, Bangor.

Gwyn Thomas has published 16 volumes of poetry, several volumes of work as a literary and cultural critic and has also translated the Mabinogion into English. Prof Thomas's first work as a poet Chwerwder yn y Ffynhonnau was published in 1962, while his latest Apocalups Yfory was published in 2005. Prof Thomas is also a literary and cultural critic and has published several volumes of essays, critiques, adaptations and translations, including the classic Y Traddodiad Barddol – a study of the classic poetic tradition of Wales. Prof Thomas is also involved with the film industry in Wales, and has helped pioneer techniques to combine poetry and film.

In 2006, THomas published his autobiography, entitled Bywyd Bach, having been asked to write this as one of the series Cyfres y Cewri.