The 22 Greatest Works of Welsh Literature

For a small country amid the English and Irish cultural powerhouses, Wales has an exceptional literary tradition of its own. Welsh literature has particularly gained world recognition in the twentieth century and continuing in the twenty-first.

For this list, Welsh literature is defined here as writing by authors residing in Wales and its previous states.

This list covers the greatest Welsh literature of all times, cultures and genres. It focuses on major fictional works, including novels, novellas, novel series, plays, epic poetry and collections.

The selection is based on the continuing research carried out for The Greatest Literature of All Time and further research into Welsh literature acclaimed by readers, writers, critics and scholars.

Latest update: September 21, 2026