AWWE's History
AWWE was established towards the end of 1984 - as 'The University of Wales Association for the Study of Welsh Writing in English' - to promote the study and visibility of the English-language literatures of Wales. The Association's focus and concerns have developed over time, and it now concentrates on producing the scholarly journal for the field (the International Journal of Welsh Writing in English), providing an annual conference, and organising the M. Wynn Thomas Prize (which recognizes excellence in written work).
The information detailed in this 'History' section of our website is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to give a sense of AWWE's changing work since its beginnings, so that readers, writers, and academics can understand the part that the Association has played in its scholarly field; and (2) to outline the development of Welsh writing in English as a field of scholarly inquiry.
The information detailed in this 'History' section of our website is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to give a sense of AWWE's changing work since its beginnings, so that readers, writers, and academics can understand the part that the Association has played in its scholarly field; and (2) to outline the development of Welsh writing in English as a field of scholarly inquiry.
'The Association for Welsh Writing in English: A Short History'
A detailed account of the Association's activities since the 1980s, written by Bangor University's Professor Tony Brown, who was AWWE Secretary from 1998 to 2014. Read it here.
'Welsh Writing Taken Seriously'
A fascinating article about the Association's earliest work, written by AWWE's first Chair, Dr John Pikoulis, for the spring 1989 edition of the Welsh Books Council magazine Llais llyfrau/Book News from Wales. Reproduced by kind permission of John Pikoulis and the Welsh Books Council. Read it here.
'Forming the Subject: The Genesis of Welsh Writing in English as an Academic Discipline'
Written by Professor Jane Aaron (University of South Wales), this important research article outlines the development of Welsh writing in English as a scholarly discipline, prior to the establishment of AWWE in 1984. Read it here.
AWWE Conference Archive
An ongoing attempt to collect together details of AWWE's annual Gregynog conferences. As John Pikoulis's article (above) indicates, the Association's initial concern appears to have been with publications rather than conferences. Nonetheless, the first two 'colloquia' (as Pikoulis's article calls them) were held in Gregynog in 1986 and 1987. The following two years passed without conferences. But after that point, from 1990, the Association has met annually at Gregynog - apart from 2001, when the foot and mouth outbreak prevented the conference that had been scheduled for that year.
Browse the archive here.
If you have conference details or paperwork for any years that we don't have information, please do get in touch with us on [email protected]. We'd be delighted to hear from you.
Browse the archive here.
If you have conference details or paperwork for any years that we don't have information, please do get in touch with us on [email protected]. We'd be delighted to hear from you.
The photograph at the top of this page (taken from an original © Aidan Byrne) shows the ceiling of a staircase at Gregynog Hall.