Gareth Miles

Gareth Miles (19 April 1938 – 6 September 2023) was a Welsh-language author, translator, and a founder of Cymdeithas yr Iaith.[1][2] He was a Marxist and translated Hamlet into the Welsh language from that perspective.[3]

In 2008 his book 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]

  1. ^ BBC
  2. ^ Wales Online
  3. ^ Shakespeare and Wales: From the Marches to the Assembly. Edited by Willy Maley and Philip Schwyzer, page 216
  4. ^ Wales Book of the Year site
  5. ^ Shipton, Martin (7 September 2023). "Key Welsh language campaigner Gareth Miles dies at 85".
  6. ^ Somerset, Adam (8 September 2023). "Gareth Miles in His Own Words". Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Yr awdur, dramodydd ac ymgyrchydd iaith Gareth Miles wedi marw". newyddion.s4c.cymru (in Welsh). 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.