New Welsh Review Poetry Prize announced

The results of the New Welsh Review Poetry Prize, in association with the University of Aberystwyth, were announced last night.

Winner:

John Goodby for 21st October 1966

Runners-up:

Philip Tomkins for The Bed
Katherine Stansfield for Swine Song

The prizes were awarded by poet Philip Gross at a ceremony in Aberystwyth last night. Congratulations to the winners. Winning poems will be published in New Welsh Review in the autumn.

New Welsh Review Poetry Prize Event

Join New Welsh Review, in association with Aberystwyth University Department of English and Creative Writing, when we announce the winners of our 2009 Poetry Prize:

Thursday March 12th from 6.30pm at The Bookshop, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Alongside an opportunity to hear the winning poems, there will also be a chance to catch what will no doubt be an engaging reading from one of the UK's finest poets, Philip Gross.

The event also launches our spring issue, out now.

Entry is free, and we hope to see you there.

Magma Poetry

The latest issue of Magma includes an article by me on the contemporary poetry scene in Wales and the output from Welsh poets.

This edition also includes some fine reviews of recent collections, a great interview with Glyn Maxwell (recent nominee for the T S Eliot Prize) and Michael Symmons Roberts on research and poetry.

New Welsh Review 83

Out now.

Buy or subscribe and enjoy the very best of new Welsh writing

Happy St David's Day

There is much for the Welsh to be proud of on this St David's Day. Cole Moreton, who has family in the valleys, reports in today’s Independent on Sunday.

Looking at literature from Wales, Moreton cites David Jones, Roald Dahl and the two Thomases. The only two living writers mentioned are Dick Francis and Gwyneth Lewis. Unfortunately, Lewis is described as the National Poet. Of course, the talented Lewis was the first National Poet for Wales and she did a great job during her tenure – in 2005-6. Gillian Clarke is in fact the current incumbent.

And why no mention of any of the following, just for starters: John Williams, Owen Sheers, Trezza Azzopardi, Joe Dunthorne, Robert Lewis, Meirion Jordan, Lloyd Jones, Sarah Waters, Malcolm Pryce, Stevie Davies, Robert Minhinnick. Niall Griffiths, Richard Gwyn, Tristan Hughes or Rachel Trezise?

On the plus side, Trezise provides engaging comment on modern Wales for the IoS for the occasion. You can read it here.

And if you want to discover just how much Welsh literature has to offer then click here.

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Dedwydd!