Reviews

English review follows ... Sgowsar cynnes a Chymro brwdfrydig felly y mae'r llyfr yma'n cyfeirio at Frank Green, a fydd o fawr dicach o glywed hynny. Ond prin fod angen geiriau i ddisgrifrio'i ddawn fel arlunydd. Mae'r cannoedd o luniau sy'n britho'r llyfr yma'n dyst i'w fedr aruthrol yn y maes hwnnw. Mae'r gyfrol yn gofnod hanesyddol gwerthfawr o waith yr arlunydd, ac yn wir, dyna grisialu gwaith Frank Green ar hyd y blynyddoedd. Yma ceir cofnod ar gynfas o ddinas Lerpwl, ac o'r strydoedd a'r adeiladau hynny sydd wedi'u hen ddymchwel erbyn hyn. Gyda'r ddadl barhaus ynglyn dyfodol y strydoedd Cymreig yn dal i gyniwair, mae'n adeg fendigedig i gyhoeddi'r llyfr yma, sy'n cyd-fynd 'r arddangosfa o waith Frank ym Mhlas Glyn-y-Weddw ym Mhen Llyn. Mae yma wledd o luniau fydd o ddiddordeb arbennig i'r rheini sy'n gyfarwydd Lerpwl, ond nid y bobl hynny'n unig. Ceir gwybodaeth am rai o adeiladwyr Cymreig Lerpwl William Jones, Cerrigydrudion, ac Owen Williams, Bwlchtocyn, yn eu plith. Roedd gwaddol Cymreig y rheini a'r cannoedd o Gymry a fu'n gweithio iddyn nhw, yn golygu bod y Gymraeg i'w chlywed yng nghymdogaeth Frank Green pan oedd yn blentyn bach. Erbyn hyn y mae'n Gymro gyda'r gorau, ac mae lluniau hyfryd o Eryri hefyd i'w gweld yn y llyfr, gan fod gan Frank gartref yn ogystal ym Mhont-rug. Mae Gareth Wyn Jones hefyd yn haeddu canmoliaeth am y ffordd rwydd y mae'n ein tywys trwy'r hanes, a hynny heb ein gorlwytho. Mae'n gamp cynnwys cynifer o straeon difyr yn ogystal 'r lluniau, o gofio hefyd fod y llyfr yn gwbwl ddwyieithog. Fe ddaeth ambell dro trwstan i ran Frank dros y blynyddoedd sonia am ryw rafins ar un achlysur yn dwyn ei ysgol gan ei adael ar ben to! Feddyliais i erioed am wneud llun trwy ddefnyddio coffi a siocled ond mae'n bosib cewch weld hwn yn y llyfr! Efallai y byddai wedi bod yn braf clywed rhyw fymryn o lais Frank ei hun mewn rhagair, efallai gan mai arddull siarad ar ran yr arlunydd a geir yn y llyfr (er cystal y dweud). Ond nid yw hynny'n tynnu dim oddi ar gyfrol sy'n drysor o luniau ac atgofion, ac yn llawn cystal portread o ddinas ag y gellid ei ddisgwyl mewn llyfr trymach o lawer. Ellis Roberts ***************** A warm-hearted Scouser and enthusiastic Welshman that's this book's description of Frank Green, and he won't mind that at all. But words aren't necessary to describe his gift as a painter. The hundreds of pictures in this book are a testimony in themselves. There's a real historical value to his work as well, and that, in fact, sums up Frank Green's contribution over many years. He gives us a chronicle of Liverpool on canvas, and of the streets and buildings that are no longer there. As the debate continues over the future of some of the Welsh streets, the publication of this book could hardly be more timely. It also comes on the occasion of a large-scale exhibition of Frank's work at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw on the Llyn peninsula. There's a wealth of pictures here which will be of particular interest to those who know Liverpool, but also to many more besides. We are given details about some of the Welsh builders, including William Jones from Cerrigydrudion and Owen Williams from Aber-soch. Their Welsh influence on the city, alongside the hundreds of Welsh workers who worked for them, meant that the Welsh language was commonly heard in Frank Green's community when he was very young. By now he too is a fluent Welsh speaker, and there are lovely pictures of Snowdonia in this book as well, where Frank also has a home. Gareth Wyn Jones also deserves praise for the book's flowing narrative, which is refreshingly concise. Even in the midst of all the pictures and bilingual commentary, there's still room for some entertaining tales. There were a few tight spots for Frank over the years, such as the incident when a group of youths stole his ladder leaving him stranded on a rooftop! I never knew you could make a picture out of coffee and chocolate, but this book shows you otherwise! It might have been good to have had part of the story told in Frank's own voice maybe an introduction the style is one of speaking on his behalf throughout (which is done extremely well). But that doesn't in any way detract from a book which is a treasure of pictures and memories, and as good a depiction of a city as you could wish for in a far heavier volume. Ellis Roberts Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. -- Welsh Books Council