Literary Geographies in Wales

: Welsh Writing in English and Devolution

Abstract

This thesis explores Welsh writing in English in the context of devolution in Wales through the emerging field of literary geography. Through readings of the Real Series (Seren, 2002-present), and New Stories from the Mabinogion (Seren, 2009-13), as well as single-author studies of Iain Sinclair and Jan Morris, it discusses devolution as a spatial event, one in which changing Welsh geographies are reflected by contemporary Anglophone Welsh literature. Part One contains three chapters. Chapter One introduces the Spatial turn as the thesis’ theoretical framework, providing an overview of work in the fields of literary geography and geocriticism, suggesting that contemporary Welsh literature can best be understood as a dialogue between real and imaginary spaces. Chapter Two look at the position of the incomer (the ‘electively Welsh’ Jan Morris), and the role she has played in portraying utopian visions of both a devolved and independent Wales. Chapter three focuses specifically on the work of Iain Sinclair’s work on London is a mediation of his Welsh identity. Part Two also contains three chapters. Chapter Four gives a detailed summary of the history of devolution in Wales ad the structural changes to the funding of literature. It questions to hat extent writers in Wales reflect prevalent attitudes towards devolution. Chapter Five focuses on the New Stories and the way in which it is both consciously and unconsciously about devolution, as well as being funded by a devolved body (the Welsh Books Council). Chapter Six discusses a series of psychogeographical travel guides, The Real Series, focusing on the way in which contemporary Welsh spaces are being transcribed into a multifocalized approach to deep-mapping. This thesis concludes by arguing the effects on Welsh literature are best understood in the context of changes to Welsh real and imaginary geographies, encompassing literary reactions to discourses of political and cultural nationalism.

Date of Award	2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aberystwyth University
Supervisor	Tim Woods (Supervisor) & Neal Alexander (Supervisor)