Bewnans Ke/ The Life of St Kea
A critical edition with translation

‘Bewnans Ke is a text of global significance, and one in which the literary link to King Arthur is fully established.’ ‘The discovery of the manuscript has brought about what in my view is another monumental event in the development of Cornish language and literary studies – Thomas and Williams’ translation and edition of the play, published in 2007 by the University of Exeter Press in association with the National Library of Wales.’ ‘Thomas and Williams’ version raises the bar considerably and must now be the standard to which others work toward, and the general editors of Exeter’s Medieval Texts and Studies series – Vincent Gillespire, Marion Glasscoe and M.J. Swanton should also be praised for their opening up of a neglected field – that of medieval Cornish writing.’ ‘What makes Thomas and Williams’ work compulsive is its comprehensiveness.’ ‘This is the look and feel of confident, modern, and uncompromising Cornish literary studies.’ ‘...the production values of this publication simply leave other Cornish-language material standing. It is also encouraging to see a major University Press take such interest in Cornish literature.’ (The Cornish Banner, No. 130, November 2007) As Graham Thomas observed at the time of discovery of the manuscript, Bewnans Ke may be the only medieval Arthurian play to have survived. Now, it is wonderful to have this edition to study for its historical interest and its Arthurian puzzle, and to read for its sheer entertainment value. The present volume, attractively produced in a chunky but portable hardback with book mark, will be a splendid addition to libraries and to the collections of Arthurian specialists, but a rather more economically priced paperback is highly desirable so that both the text itself and the editors’ hard work can receive the attention deserved. We can hope to hear much more about Bewnans Ke.’ (Linda Gowans, Arthuriana, Vol. 17, No. 3, Fall 2007) "This attractively produced and bound book presents the text of a newly discovered play in Middle Cornish..." . "The editors have done everything to make this text accessible. it is beautifully and spaciously laid out for easy reading and is faced by an English translation whihc itslef has considerable dramatic power." . "The language of this translation is direct and racy. The accumulative effect of the envoy's testimonies of their rulers' allegiance to the great potentates is almost hypnotic in its power. A very full introduction includes a summary of both Albert le Grand's ''Life of St Ke" and of the play, and they are compared to each other" (Revue d'histoire ecclesiastique, Feb 2008)