Gareth Miles Explained

Gareth Miles (19 April 1938 – 6 September 2023) was a Welsh-language author, translator, and a founder of Welsh: italic=no|[[The Welsh Language Society|Cymdeithas yr Iaith]].^{[1] [2]} He was a Marxist and translated Hamlet into the Welsh language from that perspective.^[3]

In 2008 his book Welsh: Y Proffwyd a’i ddwy Jesebel won the Wales Book of the Year for Welsh language fiction.^[4]

Journalist Martin Shipton described him as "one of the most influential figures in the 20th century Welsh language movement."^[5]

Miles was a strong advocate for the primacy of the dramatist in theatre over devised work. He described himself as a patriot rather than a nationalist.^[6]

Gareth Miles died on 6 September 2023, at the age of 85.^[7]

Notes and References

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19098180 BBC
2. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/08/04/welsh-language-activists-campaign-for-an-end-to-english-only-court-orders-91466-31545552/ Wales Online
3. https://books.google.com/books?id=y-zX7hzfeA0C&pg=PA216 Shakespeare and Wales: From the Marches to the Assembly. Edited by Willy Maley and Philip Schwyzer, page 216
4. http://walesbookoftheyear.co.uk/archive/ Wales Book of the Year site
5. Web site: Shipton . Martin . 7 September 2023 . Key Welsh language campaigner Gareth Miles dies at 85 .
6. Web site: Somerset . Adam . 8 September 2023 . Gareth Miles in His Own Words . 8 September 2023.
7. Web site: Yr awdur, dramodydd ac ymgyrchydd iaith Gareth Miles wedi marw. newyddion.s4c.cymru. 2023-09-06. 2023-09-06. cy.