Richard Bryn Williams, or Bryn Williams (1902–1981), was a Welsh- Argentine writer, poet, playwright and historian. From 1975 to 1978 he was

Archdruid Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of Gorsedd Cymru, the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the C ...

of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Biography

Williams was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd,

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. When he was seven years old, his family moved to

Trelew Trelew (, from cy, tref "town" and the name of the founder, Lewis Jones) is a city in the eastern part of the Chubut Province of Argentina. Located in Patagonia, the city is the largest and most populous in the low valley of the Chubut River, wi ...

, Chubut,

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and g ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. He returned to Wales in 1923 and studied at the University College of North Wales (now Bangor University). He became an expert on Patagonian history and was a major contributor to the province's literature. He was a supporter of the National Eisteddfod, as well as competing in the cultural festival itself, and won the chair both in 1964 and 1968, and from 1975 to 1978 he was

archdruid Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of Gorsedd Cymru, the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the C ...

, using the bardic name ''Bryn''. Almost all of his numerous works reflect the life of Patagonia and its history.

Literary work

;Children's books *''Straeon Patagonia'' (Tales of Patagonia) (1944) *''Y March Coch'' (The Red Steed) (1954) *''Bandit yr Andes'' (The Andean Bandit) (1956) *''Croesi'r Paith'' (Crossing the Steppe) (1958) *''Yn Nwylo'r Eirth'' (In the Hands of Bears) (1967) *''Y Rebel'' (The Rebel) (1969) *''Agar'' (1973) *''Y Gwylliaid'' (The Bandits) (1976) ;Poetry *''Pentewynion'' (Brands) (1949) *''Patagonia'' (1965) *''O'r Tir Pell'' (From the Far Land) (1972) ;Plays *''Pedrito'' (1947) *''Cariad Creulon'' (Cruel Love) (1970) *''Dafydd Dywysog'' (Prince David) (1975) ;Histories, studies and other books *''Cymry Patagonia'' (The Welsh of Patagonia) (1942) *''

Eluned Morgan Eluned Morgan may refer to: *Eluned Morgan (author) (1870–1938), Welsh writer *Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely (born 1967), Welsh politician {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Eluned ...

: bywgraffiad a detholiad'' (Eluned Morgan: Biography and selection) (1945) *''Y Wladfa'' (The Colony) (1962) *''Gwladfa Patagonia 1865–1965'' (The Colony of Patagonia) (1965) *''Atgofion o Batagonia'' (Memories of Patagonia) (1980) *''Crwydro Patagonia'' (Exploring Patagonia) (1960). (Guidebook) *''Taith i Sbaen'' (Trip to Spain) (1949). (Travel book) *''Teithiau Tramor'' (Foreign trips) (1970). (Travel book) *''Prydydd y Paith'' (1983). (Memoirs, published after his death)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Richard Bryn 1902 births 1981 deaths People from Blaenau Ffestiniog Welsh Eisteddfod archdruids Welsh emigrants to Argentina Welsh-speaking academics Welsh-language poets 20th-century Welsh historians Argentine male writers Welsh-language writers Welsh children's writers People from Merionethshire 20th-century Welsh poets 20th-century Welsh dramatists and playwrights Welsh male poets British male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century British male writers