Excelsior Gan Saunders Lewis, (NLW MS 23785E.)

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Cymorth chwilio | Finding Aid - Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis, (NLW MS 23785E.)

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www.llgc.org.uk Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis,

Tabl cynnwys | Table of contents

- Tudalen | Page 2 - NLW MS 23785E. Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis,

Gwybodaeth grynodeb | Summary information

Lleoliad | Repository: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Teitl | Title: Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis, ID: NLW MS 23785E. Virtua system control vtls004051772 number [alternative]: GEAC system control (WlAbNL)0000051772 number [alternative]: Dyddiad | Date: [1962]-1980 / (dyddiad creu | date of creation) Disgrifiad ffisegol | 82 ff. Guarded and filed at NLW. Physical description: Lleoliad ffisegol | ARCH/MSS (GB0210) Physical location: Iaith | Language: Welsh Iaith | Language: English Dyddiadau creu, golygu a dileu | Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Nodyn | Note Original title. [generalNote]: Nodyn | Note Preferred citation: NLW MS 23785E. [generalNote]:

Hanes gweinyddol / Braslun bywgraffyddol | Administrative history | Biographical sketch

Nodyn | Note Saunders Lewis, dramatist, poet, historian and literary critic, was born in Wallasey, Cheshire to a family of prominent Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. He was educated at a boys's school in Liscard and at Liverpool University, where he studied English and French. His academic career was interrupted by the First World War, in which Lewis served with the South Wales Borderers, but he quickly resumed his studies at the end of the conflict, and, having graduated, worked as librarian in Glamorgan before taking up a post as lecturer in the Welsh department of the University College of Swansea. In 1925, Lewis was

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 3 NLW MS 23785E. Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis, one of the pioneering figures involved in establishing the National Party of Wales (later known as Plaid Cymru) and was made President of the fledgeling organisation the following year. Having written about the Roman Catholic church for a number of years, in 1932 Lewis converted to the faith also practised by his wife Margaret. In 1936, Lewis, D. J. Williams and Lewis Valentine set fire to the Royal Airforce's Bombing School in Penyberth on the Lleyn Peninsula, an event which has gone down in the annals of Welsh history and which earned Lewis imprisonment in Wormwood Scrubs and dismissal from his lecturing post in Swansea. He was eventually appointed senior lecturer in Welsh at the University of Cardiff but retired in 1957 to devote his time to writing. Lewis's litarary output is prodigious and he is considered by many to be the most important Welsh literary and political figure of the twentieth century; it is considered that his radio address for 1962, Tynged yr Iaith, was the direct instigating force behind the establishment of the Welsh language movement Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg.

Natur a chynnwys | Scope and content

A typescript copy, [1962]-1979, of Saunders Lewis's Welsh play 'Excelsior', first published Swansea, 1980, with corrections in the author's hand (ff. 1-56); together with correspondence, 1980, in English and Welsh, of the publisher Christopher Davies, regarding its publication in view of the allegation, when broadcast in 1962, that it libelled the Rev. Llywelyn Williams, MP (ff. 57-81). The typescript consists of pages from the original script, [1962], transmitted on BBC TV on St David's Day 1962 (ff. 5-16, 20-21, 42-51), interspersed with revised sections, [1979], for an abortive stage version (ff. 17-19, 22-41, 52-56), and the new Preface for the published volume, April 1980 (ff. 2-4). The correspondence consists of nineteen letters, April-October 1980, including copies and drafts, mostly between Saunders Lewis, Christopher Davies, Sir Alun Talfan Davies and Glyndwr Williams, brother of Llywelyn Williams. A cutting of Clive Betts' article, 'Saunders Lewis publishes play BBC abandoned' (Western Mail, 1 December 1980, p. 9), is on f. 82. The 1962 and 1980 versions of the play both appear in Dramâu Saunders Lewis: Y Casgliad Cyflawn, Cyfrol 2, ed. by Ioan M. Williams (Cardiff, 2000), pp. 273-414.

Nodiadau | Notes

Nodiadau teitl | Title notes

Ffynhonnell | Immediate source of acquisition Dylans Bookstore; Swansea; Purchase; August 1999; B1999/18.

Cyfyngiadau ar fynediad | Restrictions on access Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 4 NLW MS 23785E. Excelsior gan Saunders Lewis, Amodau rheoli defnydd | Conditions governing use Usual copyright laws apply.

Disgrifiadau deunydd | Related material Other plays by Saunders Lewis are NLW MSS 22952-54C, 22956-62.

Nodiadau eraill | Other notes • Statws cyhoeddiad | Publication status: Published • Dynodwr sefydliad | Institution identifier: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Pwyntiau mynediad | Access points

• Christopher Davies (Firm) • Lewis, Saunders, 1893-1985 -- Correspondence. (pwnc) | (subject) • Davies, Christopher H. Talfan -- Correspondence. (pwnc) | (subject) • Lewis, Saunders, 1893-1985. Excelsior. (pwnc) | (subject) • Williams, Llywelyn, 1911-1965. (pwnc) | (subject) • Davies, Christopher H. Talfan. (pwnc) | (subject) • Davies, Alun Talfan, 1913-2000. (pwnc) | (subject) • Williams, Glyndwr, 1915-2006. (pwnc) | (subject) • Betts, Clive, 1943- (pwnc) | (subject) • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) (ffurfiau dogfennol) | (documentary form) • Libel and slander -- Wales. (pwnc) | (subject) • Welsh drama -- 20th century. (pwnc) | (subject)

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales Tudalen | Page 5