Modern Literature
Before the literary revival movement promoted by Gwalarn in the early 20th century, most literature in Breton consisted of religious writings.
Jean-François Le Gonidec (Breton: Yann-Frañsez ar Gonideg) (1775 - 1838) played an important role in Breton literature by initiating a reform of Breton orthography, producing an orderly grammar and making the first Breton translation of the New Testament.
Prose writings in Breton, almost exclusively religious, start appearing from the 17th century. The second half of the 18th century saw the appearance of the first secular works in Breton: Ar Farvel Goapaer by François-Nicolas de Pascal de Kerenveyer and Sarmoun great war ar maro a Vikael Vorin by Claude-Marie Le Laë. Most literature remained oral, however.
Read more about this topic: Breton Literature
Famous quotes containing the words modern and/or literature:
“Any historian of the literature of the modern age will take virtually for granted the adversary intention, the actually subversive intention, that characterizes modern writing—he will perceive its clear purpose of detaching the reader from the habits of thought and feeling that the larger culture imposes, of giving him a ground and a vantage point from which to judge and condemn, and perhaps revise, the culture that produces him.”
—Lionel Trilling (1905–1975)
“No state can build
A literature that shall at once be sound
And sad on a foundation of well-being.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)