Language English Role Author Nationality Welsh Died 1977 | Children Edgar Dennis Jones Books Farewell Innocence Name William Glynne-Jones | |
Born 19 December 1907
Llanelli, Wales ( 1907-12-19 ) Occupation Welsh Author- Novelist, Short story writer, Broadcaster and Journalist. Spouse Doris Jones (ne Passmore) | ||
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William Glynne-Jones (1907–1977) was a Welsh author.
Contents
- Early life and career
- Writing
- Works
- Novels
- Short stories
- Childrens books
- School readers
- Magazine contributions
- Awards
- References
Early life and career
William Glynne-Jones was an Anglo Welsh Novelist, Short story writer,Broadcaster and Journalist. He was born and brought up in Llanelli and went to Llanelly boys County School.
His love of literature and his childhood desire to be a writer was fed by the books read in Llanelli library. He had to work between the ages of 16 and 36 as a steel foundry ‘moulder' at the Glanmor Foundry. After cycling home and having a tin bath he tapped away in the evenings at his typewriter. He was a fluent Welsh speaker. He coped with the physical handicap of a cleft palate and hare lip and overcame a speech impediment all his life.
He was released from the foundry, on medical grounds while his wife and son remained initially in Wales, in 1943. He went to pursue his ambition to earn his living as a free lance writer and novelist in London.
His timeless stories for children and adults were broadcast weekly on Children's hour and regularly on the mid morning story hour by the BBC.
He wrote under the exact pen name of William Glynne-Jones. He did this not through ostentation but to distinguish himself from other contemporary Anglo Welsh writers with similar names.
Writing
William Glynne-Jones succeeded in bringing to life the robust, full blooded lives and relationships which exist between people who have to work hard and dangerously, and their families.
William Glynne-Jones wrote with fidelity and deep feeling about may aspects of life in industrial 1920's South Wales, most notably the steel foundries. He interpreted the Llanelli area in particular, to those who lived there as well as to outsiders
All Wiliam Glynne-Jones' work is absorbing, creative, powerful literature.
His stories are valuable appreciations of people in their environment and literary landscape. They capture a corner of unique special Welsh history. They captivate the reader with pathos, nostalgia,ambition and imagination.
They particularly recollect a childhood world of innocence, and adventure surrounded by poverty. They represent powerful lessons for people and children today. They are vivid, moving and humorous. Many have brilliant twist endings.
His circle of literary friends, acquaintances,and correspondents included:- Glyn Jones, Doris Lessing, Somerset Maugham, LG Strong, George Ewart Evans, Gareth Hughes (Hollywood silent screen star and 1st Cousin),Professor Gwyn Jones, Gwyn Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Brian Forbes (Film actor and director), Emyr Humphreys( author), Clifford Evans (film and TV star), Dr Thomas Jones CH, Emlyn Williams, Richard Burton.
Works
William Glynne-Jones' published work includes 4 major novels,12 books for children, Welsh short story collections, and School Readers (short stories)for children.
He also wrote hundreds more short stories, magazine articles and broadcasts.
A full list of his published work appears here. However, much more remains unpublished in several manuscripts.
Novels
Short stories
Children's books
School readers
Magazine contributions
Awards
William Glynne-Jones was awarded the Rockefeller Foundation Atlantic award for literature in 1946 for £300. http://69.164.218.34/files/original/1ab71b67b4e5ed63daae506f56ce37d1.pdf
He was immensely proud when awarded a medals from University of Southern Mississippi in 1970 1976 and 1979 for his contribution to children's literature. He donated to the 'De Grummond'Collection http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/research/findaids/DG0375.html
His name appears on the Jan 1982 National Geographic magazine map of Novelists of the British Isles. Also in the Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales and Author and Writers Who's Who.