George Orwell’s Classics Find a New Voice in Welsh

Gorge Orwell Classics Find a New Voice in Welsh

George Orwell's two iconic classics, Animal Farm and 1984, have been translated into the Welsh language for the first time.

Both novels have found a new life in Welsh society. Animal Farm, a political fiction inspired by the Russian Revolution, has been translated by Anna Gruffydd into its Welsh edition, Foel yr Anifeiliaid, with the setting being north-west Wales, and the characters getting Welsh names.

1984, on the other hand, has been translated by Adam Pearce to Mil Naw Wyth Deg Pedwar, with the totalitarian society now using a Welsh version of Newspeak.

"Welsh grammar is fundamentally different to English, so getting Newspeak to work and translating Orwell's Principles of Newspeak essay was by far the hardest part of the book," he added.

Mr Pearce is also the founder of Melin Bapur, the Welsh publishing house responsible for these translations. Melin Bapur is dedicated to publishing literary classics in Welsh.