Skip to main content
Paul Robeson standing behind a lecturn

13 June 2023

Paul Robeson will always be closely associated to Wales. Even in modern times, there have been several books written about his ties, covering his meetings with Aneurin Bevan, his frequent appearances at Welsh festivals, to his political activities and support for the Welsh miners. Music has also been influenced, with Welsh rockers the Manic Street Preachers singing about his political exile from America in their song ‘Let Robeson Sing’ from their 2001 album ‘Know your Enemy’.

Robeson’s connection can be felt most deeply in the 1940s movie ‘The Proud Valley’, which saw Robeson’s character David Goliath visit Wales for employment. The villagers initial had misgivings, but David was soon welcomed into their community through song and his heroic endeavors.

To fully explore Robeson’s connections to Wales would require months of in-depth research, but even with a brief synopsis, the overall outcome will always be the same. To remember Paul Robeson.

Selected online sources

Selected items from the National Library’s collection

Books

  • Aneurin Bevan a Paul Robeson: sosialaeth, dosbarth a hunaniaeth = Aneurin Bevan and Paul Robeson: socialism, class and identity – ISBN: 9781904773535
  • Black is just a colour: responses to the life of Paul Robeson
  • Cymanfa Ganu Bevan, Robeson, Cymru 1958
  • Gadewch i Paul Robeson ganu!: dathlu bywyd Paul Robeson a thrafod ei berthynas â Chymru – ISBN: 1862250383
  • Here I stand – ISBN: 0304703516
  • No way but this: in search of Paul Robeson – ISBN: 9781911617204
  • Paul Robeson: essays on his life and legacy – ISBN: 0786411538
  • Paul Robeson speaks: writings, speeches, interviews, 1918-1974

Music

  • 20 songs & Transatlantic exchange concert
  • The best of Paul Robeson
  • Deep river: I’m goin’ to tell God all o’ my troubles
  • Emperor of song!
  • Ol’ man river: Show boat – vocal gems

Film & video

  • Dilyn Ddoe. Paul Robeson
  • Jericho
  • The proud valley

Images

  • Paul Robeson / Echt Foto
  • Paul Robeson [A modern print of a publicity photo of Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones from the 1933 film ‘The Emperor Jones’. Mounted below it is Paul Robeson’s autograph]
  • Paul Robeson at the National Eisteddfod, Ebbw Vale, 1958
  • Robeson / HTV [Film following the son of legendary Paul Robeson on his visit to Wales]

Ian Evans

Shared Cataloguing Programme Manager

Category: Article