The first editions of this “marvellous book, an endlessly fascinating companion” appeared in 1986. The English version, The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales, was published by Oxford University Press and the Welsh version, Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru, by the University of Wales Press (UWP); second impressions appeared in 1990 and 1992, respectively. A revised edition of Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru was published by UWP in 1997. Meic Stephen’s latest blockbuster, The New Companion to the Literature of Wales, now published by the University of Wales Press, embodies the revised content of the earlier versions, bringing the story up to July 1998.
Entries now total more than 3,300 (415 of them new, mainly for authors). There are 323 contributors (up from 222), handsomely representing the literary, academic, and artistic pundits of Welsh intellectual life. Revision and updating, by contributors old and new, appear to be very thorough. Some entries have been “substantially revised or even completely rewritten”. Sadly, this welcome spring cleaning process has resulted in the loss of contributors’ names at the foot of individual entries.
My warm praise and few criticisms of Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru (1997) (Reference Reviews, 98/205) apply equally to this impressive English version. There are some new quirks and oddities, such as the use of the rare form Botryddan rather than the more usual Bodrhyddan which one expects, but fails to find, in company with Bodeon, Bodfel, Bodidris, Bodwrda, Bodychen. Editors inevitably face criticism of their decisions as to what to exclude and what to include (and at what length). Meic Stephens has been quite remarkably inclusive. Little of real importance to students of Welsh literature, in Welsh or in English, has been missed. It is, however, surprising that a number of authors still in print are missing from this new edition. Kathy Miles and W.J. Rees come to mind. Future editions should certainly include any author figuring in the lists of the University of Wales Press, Seren, Gwasg Gomer, Honno, and other Welsh publishers.
That said, The New Companion to the Literature of Wales is without peer, by far the most comprehensive and well conducted guide we have yet had. At £27.50 it is a stunning bargain, an obvious choice as Christmas or birthday present for friends and family, an indispensable, invaluable accession for reference libraries worldwide ‐ and a highly desirable component of personal, public and school libraries within Wales and the Welsh diaspora.
