HUGHES, ISAAC (Craigfryn; 1852 - 1928), novelist

Born at Quakers' Yard, Glamorganshire, the son of Daniel Hughes, a cobbler. At the age of nine he worked at the Llancaiach Colliery, Gelligaer, but later left the colliery for six months schooling at the school held by Thomas Evans at the Carpenters Arms. In his youth, he was noted as a poet and contributed to Welsh magazines and periodicals. In 1881, he achieved fame by writing a novel - Rhys Trefor, which was awarded first prize at the national eisteddfod held at Merthyr; in the same year his novel, Y Ferch o Gefn Ydfa , was published. This was followed by Y Ferch o'r Scer, 1892, Gwenhwyfar, Y Llofruddiaeth yng Nghoed y Gelli, 1893, and O'r Cryd i'r Amdo, 1903. Some of these tales have been translated into English. He made a study of local legends and folklore and two of his finest contributions have been incorporated in Sir John Rhys's Celtic Folklore. He worked as a collier in the Deep Navigation Pit, Treharris, but for the last eighteen years of his life he had been afflicted with blindness. He was for many years local secretary of the South Wales Miners Federation and secretary of the Workers' Library, Treharris. Craigfryn, who was survived by three daughters and two sons, died 3 December 1928, and was buried in Llanfabon churchyard.

Author

• Idwal Lewis

Sources

• South Wales Daily News, 9 July 1925
• The Merthyr Express, 8 December 1928

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q13129280

Published date: 1959

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