 Title-page of the first edition | |
| Author | Thomas Love Peacock |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Welsh mythology |
| Genre | Historical romance |
| Published | March 1829 |
| Publisher | Thomas Hookham |
| Publication place | England |
The Misfortunes of Elphin (1829) is a short historical romance by Thomas Love Peacock, set in 6th century Wales, which recounts the adventures of the bard Taliesin, the princes Elphin ap Gwythno and Seithenyn ap Seithyn, and King Arthur. Peacock researched his story from early Welsh materials, many of them untranslated at the time; he included many loose translations from bardic poetry, as well as original poems such as "The War-Song of Dinas Vawr". He also worked into it much satire of the Tory attitudes of his own time. Elphin has been highly praised for its sustained comic irony, and by some critics is considered the finest Arthurian literary work of the Romantic period.[1][2]
- ^ Gossedge 2006, p. 157.
- ^ Taylor & Brewer 1983, p. 60.