New book includes 26 bilingual poems inspired by 26 National Library of Wales treasures

Readers who are curious about the treasures we have in our National Library, and interested in the stories behind them can now see how poets – writing in Welsh and English – have interpreted the ‘voices’ of 26 of the objects in a new book, 26Treasures, which is published this month.

The book will be launched on Tuesday 12 June, 2pm at the Council Chambers, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. To request an invitation (available to members of the public) email lowri@tynewydd.org. The Translators House Wales Translation Challenge 2012 will also be launched at the event.

The book has been crowd-funded through Unbound and will be the world’s first anthology of ‘sestudes’ – a new literary form of 62 words devised especially for the projects from which the book has arisen. It will include contributions from similar projects at the V&A, the Ulster Museum and the National Museum of Scotland and features sestudes from leading poets and writers such as Gillian Clarke, the national poet of Wales; Andrew Motion and Alexander McCall Smith.

The aim was to give a personal response to the objects and inspire visitors to the museums (or viewers of the collections online) to see the treasures in a new light.

The ‘Wales’ section of the book features twenty six pieces of writing, 13 in Welsh and 13 in English, alongside striking images of the objects. Each sestude was translated into the other language, while keeping to the rule that the translation must also be exactly 62 words.

The Wales project was organised by writers collective 26, in collaboration with National Library of Wales, and Tŷ Newydd Writers’ Centre. Writers were paired at random with the objects – from a film of Lloyd George meeting Hitler to a self-portrait by Shani Rhys-James – and given six weeks to come up with their response.

The pieces of writing were displayed at last year’s National Eisteddfod as part of the Translators House Wales Translation Challenge, organised by Wales Literature Exchange and Tŷ Newydd. The Bardic Staff was awarded to Hywel Meilyr Griffiths for his translation of Lin Sagovsky’s “Old banknotes”. It was a real feat of translation because Lin’s original piece – inspired by her randomly assigned object, Welsh banknotes from the 19th century – draws on the language of advertising slogans.  

The book, (priced from £10 for an electronic copy, £18 for hardback), will be sent to subscribers in June, and the second edition will be distributed by Faber to shops in September and available to order online. It’s still possible to buy the book through the website, visit www.unbound.co.uk/books/26-treasures. To read the poems, their translations, and some of the stories behind their creation, visit www.26treasures.com.

Arwel Jones, Director of Public Services, The National Library of Wales, said: "This project goes to the heart of what the National Library of Wales is all about. We safeguard the nation's treasures so that they can inspire anew. It's been a pleasure."

Sally Baker, Executive Director of Tŷ Newydd, said: "This is such an exciting project for Tŷ Newydd. We can wear both our hats at the same time; Tŷ Newydd, the Writers' Centre, supporting new writing and Translators' House Wales, our joint venture with Wales Literature Exchange encouraging literary translation. Plus we have the added pleasure of being able to work in partnership with the National Library of Wales, 26 Writers' Group and Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru."

John Simmons, one of the founders of 26, added: "26 Treasures releases well-crafted and deeply felt words about precious objects. These give us all unexpected and personal insights into the Library's collection."

Sioned Puw Rowlands, Director of Wales Literature Exchange, said: “As the great Australian poet Les Murray has said, ‘We are a language species’ and translation is perhaps the definitive human activity. This project brings very much alive the fact that creativity is what we gain in translation: translating images, translating words.”

Press contacts:
Siôn Jobbins NLW Press Office 01970 632902 post@llgc.org.uk

External Links:
26 Treasures
Ty Newydd
Literature Wales