Obituary: Jan Morris, ‘a real treasure to Wales’
Born in England, writer Jan Morris embraced her father’s Welsh identity to become a convinced nationalist.
A successful author, she initially achieved fame as the newspaper reporter who broke the story of Sir Edmund Hilary’s ascent of Everest.
She was living with her partner Elizabeth when she died at 94 and asked to be buried on a small island on the River Dwyfor behind their Gwynedd home.
She wrote the epitaph: ‘Here are two friends at the end of one life.’
Her life story was crammed with romance, discovery and adventure. She was a soldier, an award-winning journalist, a novelist and – as a travel writer – became a poet of time and place.
She was known also a pioneer in her personal life, as one of the first high-profile figures to change gender, and would later become a staunch Welsh nationalist.
Born James Morris to a Welsh father and English mother in Clevedon, Somerset, she more recently lived in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd.
She accepted a CBE from the Queen out of “politeness”, she said, and was honoured too by the Eisteddfod, as a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards and awarded for her contribution to Welsh life.
Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford wrote on Twitter he was “very sad” to hear of Jan Morris’ death.
“Such an incredibly talented author and what an amazing life she had,” he said.
“She was a real treasure to Wales. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.”
الترجمة /
عن الكاتبة الإنجليزية جان موريس