Roberts, Brynley F(rancis) 1931-

views updated

ROBERTS, Brynley F(rancis) 1931-

PERSONAL: Born February 3, 1931, in Aberdare, Wales; son of Robert Francis and Laura Jane (Williams) Roberts; married Rhiannon Campbell, 1957; children: Rolant, Owen. Education: University College of Wales, B.A. (with honors), 1951, M.A., 1954, Ph.D., 1969. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, music.

ADDRESSES: Home—Hengwrt, Llanbadarn Road, Aberystwyth SY23 1HB, Wales.

CAREER: University of Wales, fellow, 1956-57; University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Department of Welsh, lecturer and reader, 1957-78; University College, Swansea, Wales, professor of Welsh language and literature and department head, 1978-85; National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, librarian, 1985-94. Jesus College, Oxford, John Rhys Fellow, 1973-74; United Theological College, Aberystwyth, chairman, 1977-98.

AWARDS, HONORS: Honorary fellow, University of Wales, 1996, 2000.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, author of introduction, notes) Brut y Brenhinedd: Llanstephan Ms. 1 Version, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (Dublin, Ireland), 1971.

(Editor) Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (Dublin, Ireland), 1975.

Beirniadaeth Lenyddol: Erthyglau, Gwasg Pantycelyn, 1982.

Gerald of Wales, University of Wales Press, 1982.

(Editor) Early Welsh Poetry: Studies in the Book ofAneirin, National Library of Wales (Aberystwyth, Wales), 1988.

(Editor) Itinerary through Wales, illustrated by Colin Paynton, Gwasg Gregynog (Newtown, Powys, Wales), 1989.

(Editor, with Rachel Bromwich and A. O. H. Jarman) The Arthur of the Welsh: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature, University of Wales Press (Cardiff, Wales), 1991.

Studies on Middle Welsh Literature, E. Mellen Press (Lewiston, NY), 1992.

Y Mabinogion: Diweddariad, Gwasg Gomer, 1993.

Iwerddon A'r Alban: Cyflwynedig i R. GeraintGruffydd, Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1996.

Moelwyn: Bardd y Ddinas Gadarn, Gwasg Pantycelyn, 1996.

Coeditor of The Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970, with T. Jenkins and E. D. Jones.

SIDELIGHTS: Brynley F. Roberts is a retired National Library of Wales librarian. In Gerald of Wales Roberts provides a biography on Gerald of Wales and a discussion on his written works. Gerald, born in either 1145 or 1146, was of both Welsh and Norman decent. He was a well-known author and churchman. His goal in life was to be made bishop and then archbishop of St. David's, a goal that he never met. British Book News contributor I. W. Rowlands concluded that the volume's "contents are to be warmly welcomed as a perceptive essay on a perennially fascinating subject."

Roberts is coeditor of The Arthur of the Welsh: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature with A. O. H. Jarman and Rachel Bromwich. The Arthur of the Welsh is a collection of essays that provides a study on Arthurian literature and its history. Choice contributor E. M. Slotkin noted, "This book successfully provides the overview of the field it intends."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

British Book News, October, 1982, I. W. Rowlands, review of Gerald of Wales, p. 647.

Choice, April, 1992, E. M. Slotkin, review of TheArthur of the Welsh: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature, pp. 1220-1221.

English Historical Review, January, 1985, Antonia Gransden, review of Gerald of Wales, p. 159.

Medium Aevum, spring, 1990, Nicholas Jacobs, review of Early Welsh Poetry: Studies in the Book of Aneirin, pp. 147-148; fall, 1992, Nicolas Jacobs, review of The Arthur of the Welsh, p. 313.

Speculum, January, 1985, Richard W. Pfaff, review of Gerald of Wales, pp. 117-119; October, 1994, John T. Koch, review of The Arthur of the Welsh, pp. 1127-1129.

Times Literary Supplement, April 12, 2002, Joan Abse, "Ministers, Miners, Poets," p. 23.