Lecturer wins scholarship to continue his work on Merlin

Dr David Callander is one of the winners of this year's Saunders Lewis Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship enables Welsh researchers and artists to spend time on the European continent working in a number of different fields.

Winning the scholarship means that Dr Callander, who is a lecturer at Cardiff University's School of Welsh, will be able to build on the research he did on Merlin as part of the Merlin Project. He will spend time visiting the Universities of Brest and Rennes in Brittany in 2026, with the first visit taking place in January.

Speaking about his work, Dr Callander said: "Following the Merlin Poetry Project, a major project to edit the Welsh poetry written from Merlin’s perspective led by the School of Welsh, this project will enable me to do comparative work with material from Brittany.

"Merlin is also a prominent figure in the literature of Brittany, but is he the same as the Welsh Merlin or has he developed differently? The Welsh Merlin was often a political figure, voicing prophecies that challenged those in power: I wonder if the Merlin of Brittany fulfilled a similar role? I really look forward to finding out the answers to these questions.”

The scholarship is advertised approximately every 2 years and Dr. Callander is one of three to have won it this year.

Dr Callander said: "I was thrilled to hear that I had received the scholarship, especially as so many great scholars have won it in the past and have done such a great work with it. It's really exciting!"