Elena Puw Morgan (1900–1973, née Davies) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

writer. She became the first woman to win the Literary Medal at the

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...

, with the novel ''Y Graith'' (The Scar) in 1938. In addition to novels for an adult audience, Morgan published Welsh-language children's books.

Early life

Elena Puw Davies was born in 1900, the daughter of Lewis Davies and Kate Davies. Her father was a minister at the town's Independent chapel. She lived her life in Corwen in Wales.

Career

Morgan won the Literary Medal at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff in 1938, for her short novel ''Y Graith'', as the first woman to be given this honour. ''Y Graiths heroine struggles with cruelty and poverty at the start of the 20th century. Another novel by Morgan, ''Y Wisg Sidan'' (The Silk Gown), was voted Best Welsh Book of 1939 by readers of the ''Western Mail''. Morgan produced some children's books in Welsh in the 1930s, including ''Angel y Llongau Hedd'' (1931) and ''Tan y Castell'' (1939). She also wrote stories for the magazine ''Cymru'r Plant''. Two of Morgan's novels, ''Y Wisg Sidan'' and ''Y Graith'', were adapted for television. ''Y Graith'' was updated by her daughter Catrin Puw Davies and republished in 2000. Another novel, ''Nansi Lovell: Hunangofiant Hen Sipsi'', about a Welsh Romani girl, was republished by Honno Press in 2018.

Personal life and legacy

Elena Puw Davies married a tailor and poet, John Morgan of

Llangadfan Llangadfan is a small village in Powys, Wales, based in the community of Banwy. The village lies on the A458 between Foel and Llanerfyl, from Llanwddyn. Dyfnant Forest is located nearby. The village is said to be known for its country dances. ...

, in 1931. The Morgans were friends with

John Cowper Powys John Cowper Powys (; 8 October 187217 June 1963) was an English philosopher, lecturer, novelist, critic and poet born in Shirley, Derbyshire, where his father was vicar of the parish church in 1871–1879. Powys appeared with a volume of verse ...

in Corwen. Elena Puw Morgan died in 1973. Her granddaughters include Dr Angharad Puw Davies and Prof. Mererid Puw Davies. She was featured in a display at the Corwen Museum in 2020. Morgan's letters are in various collections at the

National Library of Wales The National Library of Wales ( cy, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru), Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million boo ...

Selected bibliography

*''Angel y Llongau Hedd'' (1931) *''Nansi Lovell: Hunangofiant Hen Sipsi'' (1934) *''Y Graith'' (1938) *''Y Wisg Sidan'' (1939) *''Tan y Castell'' (1939)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Elena Puw 1900 births 1973 deaths 20th-century Welsh novelists 20th-century Welsh women writers Welsh women novelists People from Corwen Welsh-language writers Welsh children's writers British women children's writers