(1815–95)
The founder of Breton literary tradition with Barzaz Breiz [Breton Bards] (Paris, 1839). As a pseudo-medievalist, La Villemarqué is often compared to the Scottish ‘translator’ James Macpherson, but he is linguistically superior and more authentic, if bowdlerized. English translation: Ballads and Songs of Brittany, trans. Tom Taylor (London, New York, 1865, 1907; repr. Norwood, Penn., 1976). See Francis Gourvil, Théodore Hersart de La Villemarqué (Rennes, 1959); D. Laurent, Aux sources du Barzaz Breiz: la mémoire d'un peuple (As Meu, 1989). See also IOLO MORGANWG.
