''Al Liamm'' (

Breton language Breton (, ; or in Morbihan) is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family spoken in Brittany, part of modern-day France. It is the only Celtic language still widely in use on the European mainland, albeit as a member of t ...

for "The Link") is a bimonthly magazine of culture and literature in the

History

The first issue of ''Al Liamm'' was published in 1946. The initial magazine was created in Paris by Pêr ar Bihan and Andrev Latimier, and then merged with two other cultural magazines, ''Kened'', and then ''Tír na nÓg'', in 1948. Ronan Huon, who was, along with Pol Le Gourrierec, the editor of ''Tír na nÓg'', took charge of the fusion. He directed the resulting magazine, ''Al Liamm-Tir na nÓg'', for about half a century. One of his sons, Tudual Huon, has taken his place at the head of the magazine. In 2013, the magazine had 600 subscribers and a circulation of 700.

Profile

Every issue offers a selection of short stories, poetry and literary essays entirely in Breton. Numerous authors of modern

Breton literature Breton literature may refer to literature in the Breton language (''Brezhoneg'') or the broader literary tradition of Brittany in the three other main languages of the area, namely, Latin, Gallo and French – all of which have had strong mutual ...

, such as

Abeozen François Eliès, born Fañch Eliès Garzanti p. 1 and better known by the pseudonym Abeozen, (1896 Saint-Sauveur, Finistère – 1963 La Baule) was a Breton nationalist, novelist and dramatist who wrote in the Breton language. Abeozen was also ...

, Per Denez,

Youenn Drezen Youenn Drezen (14 September 1899 – 17 February 1972) is the Breton language name of Yves Le Drézen, a Breton nationalist writer and activist. He is also known as Corentin Cariou and Tin Gariou. Youth He was born in Pont-l'Abbé, Finistère ...

Xavier de Langlais Xavier de Langlais (April 26, 1906 in Sarzeau – June 15, 1975) was a Breton painter, printmaker and writer. He usually signed his work with the name Langleiz, a Breton language version of his surname. Early career Langlais studied art in Nante ...

(Langleiz), Anjela Duval, Reun Ar C'halan, Maodez Glanndour,

Youenn Gwernig Youenn Gwernig (10 May 1925 – 29 August 2006; born in Scaër, Douarnenez) was a Breton-American poet, writer and singer. He was a painter, sculptor and a TV presenter on the French channel France 3. He was born in 1925 in the town of Scaër ( ...

Roparz Hemon Louis-Paul Némo (18 November 1900 – 29 June 1978), better known by the pseudonym Roparz Hemon, was a Breton author and scholar of Breton expression. He was the author of numerous dictionaries, grammars, poems and short stories. He also found ...

, Ronan Huon,

Paol Keineg Paol Keineg (born February 6, 1944) is a Breton American, Breton-American writer and poet born in Quimerc'h (Brittany). He worked in several places in Brittany as a supervisor before becoming a teacher in Morlaix. He was fired without any official ...

, Kerverzioù,

Meavenn Meavenn (1911–1992) was the pen name of Francine Rozec, also known as Fant Rozec, a Breton language poet, novelist and playwright linked to Breton nationalism. Early life and education She was born in Saint Marc, then a village, which is now mer ...

, Youenn Olier, and Yann-Ber Piriou have made contributions to the magazine with poems, short stories, essays, and studies. Breton poets and singers who were directly involved in the revival of the

music of Brittany Since the early 1970s, Brittany has experienced a tremendous revival of its folk music. Along with flourishing traditional forms such as the bombard- biniou pair and fest-noz ensembles incorporating other additional instruments, it has also branched ...

, such as Milig ar Skañv (Glenmor),

, or Bernez Tangi, have also published poems and songs in ''Al Liamm''. As emphasised by Welsh author and editor

Meic Stephens Meic Stephens (23 July 1938 – 2 July 2018) was a Welsh literary editor, journalist, translator, and poet. Birth and education Meic Stephens was born on 23 July 1938 in the village of Treforest, near Pontypridd, Glamorgan. He was educated at ...

, ''Al Liamm'' is "the principal platform for just about every Breton writer of note to emerge during the post-war period". Poems from ''Al Liamm'' authors have often been put to music and songs by Breton singers, such as Véronique Autret,

Nolwenn Leroy Nolwenn Le Magueresse (; born 28 September 1982), known by her stage name Nolwenn Leroy (), is a French singer-songwriter, musician and actress. Originally classically trained (violin and opera singing), she rose to fame after winning the second ...

Yann-Fañch Kemener Yann-Fañch Loeiz Kemener (April 7, 1957 – March 16, 2019) was a traditional singer and ethnomusicologist from Brittany, born in Sainte-Tréphine, Côtes-d'Armor, France. Known in French as Jean-François Louis Quémener. He took part in rev ...

Gilles Servat Gilles Servat is a French singer, born in Tarbes in southern France in 1945, into a family whose roots lay in the Nantes region of Brittany. He is an ardent promoter ardent of the Breton culture, and sings in both French and Breton, as well as ...

and

Alan Stivell Alan Stivell (; born Alan Cochevelou on 6 January 1944) is a French, Breton and Celtic musician and singer, songwriter, recording artist, and master of the Celtic harp. From the early 1970s, he revived global interest in the Celtic (specifically ...

. The close relationships between modern

celtic nations The Celtic nations are a cultural area and collection of geographical regions in Northwestern Europe where the Celtic languages and cultural traits have survived. The term ''nation'' is used in its original sense to mean a people who shar ...

and the various branches of

celtic literature Celtic literature is the body of literature written in one of the Celtic languages, or else it may popularly refer to literature written in other languages which is based on the traditional narratives found in early Celtic literature. Backgrou ...

have also led to contributions from Welsh and Irish authors, and to Breton translations from Welsh literature and

Gaelic literature Gaelic literature ( ga, Litríocht na Gaeilge; gd, Litreachas na Gàidhlig) is literature in the vernacular Gaelic languages of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Gaelic literature is recognised as the third oldest literature tradition of Eu ...

(

Thomas Gwynn Jones Professor Thomas Gwynn Jones C.B.E. (10 October 1871 – 7 March 1949), more widely known as T. Gwynn Jones, was a leading Welsh poet, scholar, literary critic, novelist, translator, and journalist who did important work in Welsh literature, Wel ...

, Sorley MacLean,

Seán Ó Ríordáin Seán Pádraig Ó Ríordáin (3 December 1916 – 21 February 1977), sometimes referred to as an Ríordánach, was an Irish language poet and later a newspaper columnist. He is credited with introducing European themes to Irish poetry, and is wi ...

, and Kate Roberts).

Al Liamm publishing company

The ''Al Liamm'' publishing company, associated with the magazine, has published numerous novels and memoirs: * ''Emgann Kergidu'', by Lan Inisan * ''Tristan hag Izold'', by

(Langleiz) * ''E skeud tour bras Sant Jermen'', by Yeun ar Gow * ''Skol-Louarn Veig Trebern'', by

(foreword by

Pêr-Jakez Helias Pêr-Jakez Helias, baptised Pierre-Jacques Hélias, ''nom de plume'' Pierre-Jakez Hélias (1914–1995) was a Breton stage actor, journalist, author, poet, and writer for radio who worked in the French and Breton languages. For many years he direct ...

) * ''An Teirgwern Pembroke'', by Jarl Priel * ''Pirchirin Kala-Goañv'', by

* ''Plac'hed o lêr rous'', by Yann Gerven as well as plays, by

Tanguy Malmanche Tanguy Malmanche (7 September 1875 – 20 March 1953) was a French writer involved in the revival of Breton culture. His first name also appears as Tangi. The son of Gustave Malmanche, a ship's purser based in Paris, and Marie Louise Piédalu ...

and by

, and collections of poetry, by Anjela Duval and by

References

{{reflist Breton-language mass media

History

Profile

Al Liamm publishing company

Further reading and listening

References