Gwaith Alun

Born in a modest cottage near the Wyddgrug in 1797, John Blackwell—known as Alun—showed an early thirst for knowledge despite lacking formal schooling. As a child he was handed a poet’s notebook, and by his late teens he was buying books, frequenting the market in Caer, and immersing himself in Welsh verse and the works of local bards. His sharp mind and quiet determination set the stage for a remarkable literary journey.

Alun’s talent soon shone at the Eisteddfodau of Rhuthyn, Caerwys and the Wyddgrug, where his poems “Genedigaeth Iorwerth II” and “Maes Garmon” earned him acclaim. A brief stint at the Beriw settlement deepened his studies of Latin and Greek, while his time at the Jesus College in Rhydychen refined his scholarly pursuits. By the late 1820s he was celebrated as a minister, poet, and emerging critic, contributing to periodicals and shaping the Welsh literary scene.

Listeners will hear Alun’s vivid verses, his reflections on faith, language, and the Welsh countryside, and the spirited voice of a man who blended scholarly rigor with heartfelt poetry. The collection offers a window into the early 19th‑century cultural revival that he helped to drive.