John Ellis Williams

John Ellis Williams (born 20 August 1924) is a Welsh novelist and writer, writing in both English and Welsh.

Life

Williams was born in Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfonshire and is from a farming family. He served with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. After the war, his interest in the Existentialist movement led to him corresponding with Simone de Beauvoir and visiting her in Paris.cite web|url=http://www.academi.org/list-of-writers/i/129847| title=List of Writers: Williams, John Ellis| publisher=Academi | accessdate=2008-04-13]

As well as his novels, Williams has written both fiction and non-fiction for various journals. His autobiography, "Clouds of Times and other stories", was published in 1989. He was lead consultant for a film about his uncle, Ellis Williams, which was broadcast on S4C in 2006. Was elected an Ovate (green robe) of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Cardiff on 8 August 2008 for his substantial contribution to the field of literature in Wales.

elected Publications

Novels

*Bryndu Mawr (Glasgoed Eisteddfod Chair, 1959) (later serialised in Herald Cymraeg, 1959)
*Hadau Gwyllt (Gwasg Gee, 1968)
*Modd i Fyw (Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru, 1968)
*Yr Ynys Wydr (Cyhoeddiadau Modern, 1969)
*Gwynt i Oen (Gwasg Gwynedd. 1970)
*Paul Jones a’r Tywysog (Gwasg Gee, 1975)
*Wrth Ddychwel (Cyhoeddiadau Mei, 1982)
*Nes Adref (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1996)

Other fictional / factional works

*Straeon Cyfar Main (Cyhoeddiadau Mei, 1985) Dramatised on BBC Radio Cymru
*Dychweliad y Deryn Mawr (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1990)
*Rare Welsh Bits (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2001)

Children’s stories

*Elwd y Teiliwr Bach (Gwasg Gee, 1966)
*Owen the Goat of Snowdon (PeniPrint, 1981)
*Chwedlau Siôn ac Eleri (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1992)

Biography/Autobiography

*Clouds of Time and Other Stories (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1989) (Initially serialised in Welsh in Pais magazine and in English on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales and in The Countryman). Clouds of Time itself, first published in Welsh as "Cymylau Amser" is the life story of Williams's mother, Jane Rowland Jones, and how both she and her future husband sheltered a deserter from the Trenches during World War I.

References