Ffowc Elis popularised the Welsh language novel

Islwyn Ffowc Elis, whose novel Cysgod y Cryman was voted Welsh book of the century, died in January aged 79.

His family thought it was fitting that the chair, which he also sat at to write the famous novel, should stand at the council's offices in Aberystwyth.

Mr Ffowc Elis was a former editor of the books council's magazine.

Mr Ffowc Elis transformed the Welsh popular novel Gwerfyl Pierce Jones

He won the chair at the Lewis's Eisteddfod in Liverpool - regarded as a stepping stone to success at national level.

Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, director of the books council, said: "Mr Ffowc Elis won the chair in 1947 at the Lewis's Eisteddfod in Liverpool which had been organised by Lewis stores.

The books council's Elwyn Jones next to Ffowc Elis's famous chair

"His family decided to donate the chair for two reasons - he wrote Cysgod y Cryman while sat at the chair and he was editor of the council's magazine."

Ms Pierce Jones added: "Mr Ffowc Elis transformed the Welsh popular novel and is regarded as a literary icon in Wales and the country's foremost Welsh language novelist.

Mr Ffowc Elis's books were family sagas.

Cysgod y Cryman/The Shadow Of The Sickle, published in 1953, was named book of the century by the Welsh Books Council in 2000.

In recognition for his work he was also made honorary president of the Friends of the Welsh Books Council - he joined Emyr Humphreys and Jan Morris.