Manannans Cloak - An Anthology of Manx Literature

Literature in the

Manx language Manx ( or , pronounced or ), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Gaelic language of the insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Manx is the historical language of the Manx peop ...

is known from the 16th century. Early works were often religious in theme, including translations of the

Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...

, the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

and Milton's ''

Paradise Lost ''Paradise Lost'' is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The first version, published in 1667, consists of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse (poetry), verse. A second edition fo ...

''.

Edward Faragher Edward Faragher (1831–1908), also known in Manx as Ned Beg Hom Ruy, was a Manx language poet, folklorist and cultural guardian. He is considered to be the last important native writer of Manx and perhaps the most important guardian of Manx cul ...

(; 1831–1908), who published poems, stories and translations, is considered the last major native writer of the language. The historian A. W. Moore collected traditional Manx-language songs and ballads in publications towards the end of the 19th century.

Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh , also known as the Manx Language Society and formerly known as Manx Gaelic Society, was founded in 1899 in the Isle of Man to promote the Manx language. The group's motto is (Without language, without country). History Following the decline ...

, the Manx Language Society, was founded at the end of the 19th century. The revival of Manx has resulted in new original works and translations being published in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with authors including Brian Stowell (1936–2019) and

Robert Corteen Carswell Robert "Bob" Corteen Carswell RBV (born 1950)manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printing, printed or repr ...

s), a poetic history of the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

from the introduction of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

, dates to the 16th century at the latest. Christianity has been an overwhelming influence on Manx literature. Religious literature was common, but surviving secular writing much rarer. The New Testament was first published in 1767. The

and

were translated into Manx and published in 1610 and again in 1765. The first Manx Bible was printed between 1771 and 1775 and is the source and standard for modern Manx

orthography An orthography is a set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, word breaks, emphasis, and punctuation. Most transnational languages in the modern period have a writing system, and mos ...

. It was a collective translation undertaken by most of the Manx clergy under the editorship of Philip Moore. Further editions followed in 1777 and a revised edition by the British and Foreign Bible Society 1819. A tradition of , religious songs or carols, developed, probably with its roots in the pre-Reformation period. Until the 18th century, the authors of were generally clergy, but in the 19th century new words would be put to popular tunes for use in churches and chapels. The first printed work in Manx, , dates from 1707: a translation of a Prayer Book

catechism A catechism (; from grc, κατηχέω, "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult c ...

in English by Bishop Thomas Wilson. ''Pargys Caillit'' was an abridged Manx version of ''

'' by

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem '' Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and political ...

published in 1796 by

Thomas Christian Thomas Christian (1754–1828) was the translator of John Milton's ''Paradise Lost'' into Manx language, Manx, an author of Manx carols, and vicar of Marown, Marown parish, Isle of Man. Life Thomas Christian was the second son of John Christian ...

, vicar of Marown 1780–1799.

19th century

, (, 1831–1908) of

Cregneash Cregneash or Cregneish ( gv, Creneash) is a small village and tourist destination in the extreme south-west of the Isle of Man, about from Port Erin. Most of the village is now part of a living museum run by Manx National Heritage. There are ...

has been considered the last important native writer of Manx. From the age of 26, he wrote poetry, often on religious subjects, some of which were printed in the ''Mona's Herald'' and the ''Cork Eagle''. Some of his stories are reminiscences of his life as a fisherman, and , translations of selected

Aesop Aesop ( or ; , ; c. 620–564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as ''Aesop's Fables''. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales cre ...

's Fables, was published in 1901. Many traditional Manx language songs and ballads were collected by the antiquarian and historian A. W. Moore and published in his ''Manx Carols'' (1891) and ''Manx Ballads and Music'' (1896).

Modern literature

(the Manx Language Society) has worked closely with

Culture Vannin Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, established in 1982 by the Isle of Man Government to promote Manx culture, heritage and language. It was rebranded in February 2014, having previously been known as the "Manx Her ...

(formerly the Manx Heritage Foundation) in the publication of literature in the Manx language. With the revival of Manx, new literature has appeared, including , a Manx translation of '' Alice in Wonderland'' by Brian Stowell, published in 1990. In March 2006 the first full-length Manx novel''Isle of Man Today'' article on
was published: (''The Vampire Murders''), also by Brian Stowell.

Notes

References

* , Neddy Beg Hom Ruy, 1991 {{DEFAULTSORT:Manx Literature European literature Literature by language

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

19th century

Modern literature

See also

Notes

References