Edward Thomas: Then and Now
With Fitzalan High School, led by Jafar Iqbal, in partnership with Cardiff University.
Already an acclaimed literary critic, Edward Thomas went on to become one of the most revered war-time poets of his generation. He wrote beautifully about subjects such as conflict, depression and nature but never got the opportunity to experience that success himself after his life was cut tragically short.
Using archives housed at Cardiff University, critic Jafar Iqbal and students from Fitzalan High School explored Thomas’ life and works before looking at contemporary comparisons by writers and artists such as Johnny Cash, Cat Stevens, U2 and OneRepublic, and writing their own critical articles on them.
They presented some of the work created at the workshop at Holy Glimmers of Goodbyes.
Cardiff University Special Collections and Archives: Edward Thomas, poet and critic, wrote extensively and passionately about his experience of war – including extremely honest and vulnerable reflections on mental health and masculinity. His archive is now kept at Cardiff University Special Collections and Archives, and is open to the public.
In addition to the Edward Thomas archives, CUSCA is also home to the personal archives of a number of literary figures, rare books and extensive collections relating to Welsh history and culture.
An Exploration of War and Peace
with Ysgol Calon Cymru, led by Rufus Mufasa and Elan Grug Muse
The aim of this project was to explore what war really means, how it has changed and to ask whether we will ever truly find peace?
Exploring the Welsh works Y Gododdin and Canu Heledd, and international mixed media texts, the project will create a space to look at the relationship between art and war and explore within.
At the Holy Glimmers of Goodbyes event, the pupils showcased their work in a genre-bending showcase which was a contemporary take on where we are currently, from the people that matter most – our youth.
Elan Grug Muse is originally from Dyffryn Nanlle, but is currently studying for a PhD at the Department of Welsh at Swansea University. She is researching Welsh travel literature about Latin America, and is funded through the AHRC Centre for Doctoral Training in the Celtic Languages.
She is a writer and poet, and her first volume of poetry – Ar Ddisberod – was published by Cyhoeddiadau Barddas in 2017. She is co-editor of Y Stamp – a Welsh-language magazine – and is the most recent member of the Cardiff Bragdy’r Beirdd team. Her articles and poems can be frequently read in publications such as O’r Pedwar Gwynt, Poetry Wales, Barddas, and Panorama.