Thomas Gwynn Jones (1871-1949) is one of the major literary figures of the Welsh language. He is best known as a poet, in which capacity he won the Chair at the National Eisteddfod in 1902 and again in 1909. However he was also a prolific writer of prose, completing eleven original novels, including Gorchest Gwilym Bevan which first appeared as a serial in Yr Herald Cymraeg during 1899 and was published as a book later in the same year. A new Welsh edition was published by Melin Bapur books in 2024.
A novel with socialist themes, the story follows would-be suicide Gwilym Bevan as he takes a second chance at life, becoming the leader of a group of striking quarry workers in late 19th century Wales. Humour, politics and philosophy are all combined in an exciting page-turner from a master of Welsh prose.
This English translation by Adam Pearce is the first time The Great Deed of Gwilym Bevan has been made available in English, and the first publication in book form of an English translation of any novel by T. Gwynn Jones.
Translated from Cymraeg This series aims to bring the literary classics of the Welsh language to new English-reading audiences for the first time.
