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The Origins of the 'Four Branches of the Mabinogi' is one of the most revolutionary books ever published on the literatures of Britain. Its subject is four stories in the collection of Welsh prose tales known as The Mabinogion. These Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the legends of Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed; Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr; Manawydan, Son of Llŷr; and Math, Son of Mathonwy, which have long enjoyed popularity as Wales's most significant contribution to world literature. The Four Branches are tales of love, adventure and magic, but also of rape, adultery, betrayal and attempted murder. Although most scholars agree that the four stories are the work of a single author, there has been no agreement on where and when they were composed. To these questions The Origins of the 'Four Branches of the Mabinogi' offers a startling answer. It has always been assumed that the tales are the work of a male author. However, Andrew Breeze convincingly shows not only that the Four Branches were composed by a female writer, but that she can be identified as Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan (d. 1137), king of Gwynedd, and wife of Gruffydd ap Rhys (d. 1137), prince of Dyfed. Gwenllian was born at the close of the eleventh century, married Gruffydd when she was in her teens, and for most of her life lived quietly with him near Caio in the hills of Carmarthenshire. Her end was dramatic. In early 1136 she led an attack on the Normans of Kidwelly, was defeated in battle and executed outside the town. Despite this catastrophe, her son Rhys (d.1197) survived to lead resistance to English rule and to maintain Dyfed's independence. Amongst his descendants were Henry VII of England and James VI and I of Scotland and England, so that the line of Princess Gwenllian can be traced down to the modern British royal family. Gwenllian's position within the dynasties of Gwynedd and Dyfed explains why the political and territorial aggrandizement of both territories is, uniquely, a theme of these tales. It also explains the uncommon tact with which conflict between them is described. It means too that the stories give a representation of royal government and decision-making in twelfth-century Wales by one who knew them from inside. Andrew Breeze's sensational analysis of this classic text is published in full in this volume for the first time.… (more)
ed.pendragon: The Lais are known to be by a French woman writing in England in the 12th century, while The Four Branches of the Mabinogi, written in Welsh, were probably by a 12th-century woman (as the study argues); both are narratives of great beauty and power.
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The premise of this book is easily told. The author argues from close analysis of the text, placenames and medieval history that the anonymous author of the Welsh tales called The Mabinogi (that is, the 'Four Branches' of the collection popularly known as The Mabinogion) was a women of high birth in the first third of the 12th century, and has even identified her as Gwenllian, daughter of a North Walian king and wife of a prince from South Wales.
He has argued his case over the last decade or so in a series of papers (adapted here as separate chapters of his book) which were deemed controversial when they first appeared but which not only cumulatively make a strong case but which also don't seem to have been convincingly demolished.
Among several points he makes regarding authorship are how the Four Branches show strong interest in the two Welsh polities of Gwynedd and Dyfed, both of which Gwenllian had political ties with; the familiarity with governance and diplomacy, only to be expected of someone with birth and matrimonial links with a ruling class; and of course the insight into, empathy with and detailed knowledge of matters such as childbirth, child rearing and that influence displayed by those commonly described as 'the power behind the throne'. And not just behind the throne: Gwenllian herself tragically died while actively defending the castle of Kidwelly, one of those peerless warrior women who act outside the constraints that society usually sets for them.
Andrew Breeze, by his own account, appears to be a maverick thinker in this area, but he also presents opposing theories in a reasoned and fair way. That he also demolishes the arguments for male, particularly clerical, authorship, viewpoints biased solely in favour of a north-west Welsh kingdom, and imprecise or vague datings ranging over two centuries, are attractive features of this impassioned but rational study which I find more persuasive than many. The small handful of typos and the lack of a map are the only failings I can point to in what is a short but stimulating and easily assimilated read. If, at the very least, you are encouraged to find out more about the remarkable Gwenllian then the read would have been worthwhile. And, of course, reading the original Four Branches in translation would be an added bonus, as they really are fascinating narratives. ( )
The Origins of the 'Four Branches of the Mabinogi' is one of the most revolutionary books ever published on the literatures of Britain. Its subject is four stories in the collection of Welsh prose tales known as The Mabinogion. These Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the legends of Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed; Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr; Manawydan, Son of Llŷr; and Math, Son of Mathonwy, which have long enjoyed popularity as Wales's most significant contribution to world literature. The Four Branches are tales of love, adventure and magic, but also of rape, adultery, betrayal and attempted murder. Although most scholars agree that the four stories are the work of a single author, there has been no agreement on where and when they were composed. To these questions The Origins of the 'Four Branches of the Mabinogi' offers a startling answer. It has always been assumed that the tales are the work of a male author. However, Andrew Breeze convincingly shows not only that the Four Branches were composed by a female writer, but that she can be identified as Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan (d. 1137), king of Gwynedd, and wife of Gruffydd ap Rhys (d. 1137), prince of Dyfed. Gwenllian was born at the close of the eleventh century, married Gruffydd when she was in her teens, and for most of her life lived quietly with him near Caio in the hills of Carmarthenshire. Her end was dramatic. In early 1136 she led an attack on the Normans of Kidwelly, was defeated in battle and executed outside the town. Despite this catastrophe, her son Rhys (d.1197) survived to lead resistance to English rule and to maintain Dyfed's independence. Amongst his descendants were Henry VII of England and James VI and I of Scotland and England, so that the line of Princess Gwenllian can be traced down to the modern British royal family. Gwenllian's position within the dynasties of Gwynedd and Dyfed explains why the political and territorial aggrandizement of both territories is, uniquely, a theme of these tales. It also explains the uncommon tact with which conflict between them is described. It means too that the stories give a representation of royal government and decision-making in twelfth-century Wales by one who knew them from inside. Andrew Breeze's sensational analysis of this classic text is published in full in this volume for the first time.
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He has argued his case over the last decade or so in a series of papers (adapted here as separate chapters of his book) which were deemed controversial when they first appeared but which not only cumulatively make a strong case but which also don't seem to have been convincingly demolished.
Among several points he makes regarding authorship are how the Four Branches show strong interest in the two Welsh polities of Gwynedd and Dyfed, both of which Gwenllian had political ties with; the familiarity with governance and diplomacy, only to be expected of someone with birth and matrimonial links with a ruling class; and of course the insight into, empathy with and detailed knowledge of matters such as childbirth, child rearing and that influence displayed by those commonly described as 'the power behind the throne'. And not just behind the throne: Gwenllian herself tragically died while actively defending the castle of Kidwelly, one of those peerless warrior women who act outside the constraints that society usually sets for them.
Andrew Breeze, by his own account, appears to be a maverick thinker in this area, but he also presents opposing theories in a reasoned and fair way. That he also demolishes the arguments for male, particularly clerical, authorship, viewpoints biased solely in favour of a north-west Welsh kingdom, and imprecise or vague datings ranging over two centuries, are attractive features of this impassioned but rational study which I find more persuasive than many. The small handful of typos and the lack of a map are the only failings I can point to in what is a short but stimulating and easily assimilated read. If, at the very least, you are encouraged to find out more about the remarkable Gwenllian then the read would have been worthwhile. And, of course, reading the original Four Branches in translation would be an added bonus, as they really are fascinating narratives. (