DAVIES, RICHARD (Tafolog; 1830 - 1904), poet and critic
Pseudonym: Tafolog
Date of birth: 1830
Date of death: 1904
Parent: Joanna Davies
Parent: Edward Davies
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet and critic
Area of activity: Eisteddfod; Literature and Writing; Poetry
Author: Thomas Parry
Born May 1830, son of Edward and Joanna Davies, Dugoed Bach, Mallwyd, Meirionethshire. The family moved to Cwm Tafolog, Cemais, Montgomeryshire, when Davies was a child. Having had only a few months' schooling, he worked for a time at Oswestry in order to gain a knowledge of English. He stayed on his father's farm till his marriage in 1865, when he went to live at Hirddol near Penegoes. His wife died in 1882, and on his remarriage to an Englishwoman from Worthen in Shropshire he moved to her home.
His interest in poetry dates from about 1850, when he won several prizes at local eisteddfodau. His output was considerable, including long awdlau on such topics as 'Tywyllwch,' 'Prydferthwch,' 'Rhagluniaeth,' 'Hunanaberth,' 'Awen,' and pryddestau on 'Ymweliad y Doethion a Bethlehem,' 'Gwirionedd,' 'Tangnefedd,' 'Yr Iachawdwriaeth,' 'Tragwyddoldeb.' Very little of his poetry is of lasting value, but it is an example of the philosophical aspect of the Romantic revival which it was the custom of the age to embody in long poems. His articles in Y Geninen are interesting as giving the standpoint of the followers of Islwyn, the school known as 'the New Poets.'
He died 5 February 1904.
Author
- Sir Thomas Parry, (1904 - 1985)
- Richard Davies, Evan Davies (ed.), Gwaith Tafolog (Dolgellau 1909)
- Richard Davies, Barddoniaeth a Beirdd, Y Geninen, ii, 48
- Richard Davies, Barddoniaeth: ei natur a'i dyben, Y Geninen, xv, 170
Sources
- NLW: Richard (Tafolog) Davies
Images
Published date: 1959
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
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