"Writer in residence in Tŷ Newydd"

Name of traveller

*Peter Theunynck (b.1960)

Reason for travel

• research for a new novel
• writer in residence at Tŷ Newydd, Llanystymdwy

Date of travel

6 to 26 November 2017

In het cultuurcentrum Galeri gaan de National Poet, Ifor ap Glyn, en ikzelf gedichten voorlezen. Ifor heeft me aangeraden mijn werk in het Nederlands te brengen. De Engelse vertalingen heeft hij keurig op een A4 gezet en geprint. Zelf leest hij in het Welsh voor. Na afloop merk ik dat hij mij goed geadviseerd heeft. Het publiek weet die Nederlandse klankenstroom te waarderen. (Theunynck 2017)

Content

• architecture:
  • relates the origin of the Belgian Promenade leading from the Menai Suspension Bridge to Church Island
  • praises the architectural frivolity of Portmeirion and its harmonic blending with its natural surroundings
• history: interested in the impact of the Belgian refugees on the Welsh population during the First World War
• literature:
  • researching the history of Belgian refugees for his new novel
  • presents his poetry to the people of Caernarfon together with the Welsh poet laureate Ifor ap Glyn (b.1961)
  • retells the legend attached to the village of Beddgelert and how it has been employed to attrackt tourists since the nineteenth century
• people:
  • meets with various people active in the literature and music of Wales
  • traces steps of notable Belgians living in Wales as refugees during the First World War, such as Valerius de Saedeleer and George Minne
  • notes the importance of the Davies sisters of Gregynog Hall for the history of the Belgian artist refugees in Wales during the First World War
• terrain: praises the majesty of Welsh landscape
• click here to read the full account in Dutch
• click here to read the author's own translation into English

Nationality of traveller

Belgian

Language of publication

Dutch; English translation

Gender of traveller

Male

Type of publication

blog post; travelogue

Citation

*Theunynck, Peter. "Writer in residence in Tŷ Newydd." Peter Theunynck blogt: DE POËTISCHE KIJK OP DE WERKELIJKHEID VAN PETER THEUNYNCK. 18 Dec. 2017. Web.