General Chat

Any books/authors on Welsh history. Have recently read some historical fiction books that described Wales and now has got me wanting to learn more.

Am after anything from history, significant sites, just anything at all really about Wales. I would prefer if they were by Welsh authors.

I will pop back in from time to time. Am having a little problem with access to the site that I am trying to sort out. I will reply as soon as I can.

Thanking you in advance for your recommendations.

Annie
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Have a look for books by Alexander Cordell... they are fiction, but firmly based in fact... one of his was *Rape of the Fair Country* which I think was made into a film or series a number of years ago, and they tell about the mining communities, and how it was to live in one... a real insight into life at the time here in Wales.

There are a whole series of books about Cardiff.... they are quite expensive, and give a history of the evolution of the City, including photographs and suchlike.... this series has at least 14 in it...

I have a couple of locally produced books, which my mum has hunted down in charity shops, but I don't think they are printed any more, and I use them for reference quite a bit. But they also give a good social history of the time... Woman of The Valleys by Charles Preece is the story of Mother Shepherd, a Salvation Army lady, and gives an insight into the lives of those in South Wales and Shepherds Bush in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries... that might be difficult to get hold of.

Of course, living in South Wales, it is easy for me, as the bookshops are full of them...

If I find any more titles that you might be able to get easily, I will let you know....

Love

Daff xxxxx

Just done a quick google


these two might be useful....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Green_Was_My_Valley



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cordell


Alexander Cordell's books are advertised on Amazon, as well......

Love

Daff xxxxx

How Green Was My Valley is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, telling the story through narration of the main character, of his Welsh family and the mining community they live in. The author had claimed to have based the book on his own knowledge of the Gilfach Goch area, but this was proven false, as Llewellyn was English-born and spent little time in Wales. As it turned out, he had actually gathered his facts from conversations with local mining families.[1]

The title of the novel appears in two sentences. It is first used in Chapter XXX, after the narrator has just had his first sexual experience. He sits up to . . look down in the valley. He then reflects: How green was my Valley that day, too, green and bright in the sun. The phrase is used again in the novel's last sentence: How green was my Valley then, and the Valley of them that have gone.


Despite the fact he was not Welsh it is an excellent book.

Hi Annie,
I bought a mountain...is a fictional book by Thomas Firbank.
It isn't history,but it is about North Wales,and a good read.
Will think of more later.

Brenda x x

Alexander Cordell isn't Welsh born either... I have a second edition of *Rape of the Fair Country* signed by him... R's gramp knew him. But he lived here, and has become Welsh by proxy, lol.... actually a lot of Welsh miners were originally Cornish tin miners... they were highly skilled and much sought after, in Australia as well... my gt gt grandmother was a tin miner according to her marriage certificate.... she was 16.

So many who were immigrants, lolol.... even dyed in the wool Welsh statesman Lord Tonypandy had maternal roots in Hampshire... Speaker in the House of Commons for many years... lol

Love

Daff xxxxx

Here is another one... it is also a film, and based on real events.... in fact, Taff's Well is now part of Cardiff although it wasn't then.... and I imagine that Ann of Green Gables can see that very mountain if she cranes her neck a bit, lolol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Englishman_Who_Went_Up_a_Hill_But_Came_Down_a_Mountain

Love

Daff xxxxx

A lot of people from Somerset went to Wales in the 19th century looking for work in the mines. OH's grandfather being one of them.

The following are a good read if you happen to spot them

"FEET IN CHAINS"
"THE LIVING SLEEP" Fiction - Author Kate Roberts
The above are about life in a quarrymans village near Caernarfon in North Wales. Feet In Chains starts in 1880, and ends during WW1.
The Living Sleep starts just after WW2.
Both novels translated from Welsh.


"HOVEL IN THE HILLS"
" GARDEN IN THE HILLS"
"KITCHEN IN THE HILLS" Non Fiction - Author Elizabeth West.

The above are a humourous account of life on a smallholding in Snowdonia.

"PLACE OF STONES"
Life on a Welsh hill farm. Non Fiction - Author Ruth Janette Ruck.

If you enjoy a heavier read of medieval times, I would recommend -

"The Brothers of Gwynedd"

Now available as a quartet, which includes -

"Sunrise in the West"
"The Dragon at Noonday"
"The Hounds of Sunset"
"Afterglow and Nightfall"

The story of Llewelyn, first true Prince of Wales.
Author - Edith Pargeter.

"IN SEARCH OF WALES."


This is a description of a journey through Wales, taken in 1930.
Very interesting, and an insight into the times. Although first published in 1932, the book has been reprinted many times, and is currently available on Amazon. Author - H.V.Morton.

Hope you find some interesting reading.

Tec.

I see Tec has recommended Edith Pargeter books which reminds me of 3 books I read a number of years ago,and really enjoyed.
The Heaven Tree
The Green Branch
The Scarlet seed.
Brenda x

Edith Pargeter also wrote under the name of Ellis Peters
Stories about a monk called Cadfael (?) They are historical who dun its. Some of the stories will have Welsh people and they mention Welsh History, laws and customs.

Place of Stones is more modern and a good read.

Will try to think of more Welsh authors, books etc.

A rather good historical novel is " Cry God for Glendower " by Martha Rofheart .

And for Welsh legends I rather like " The Mabinogion " .

Hi everyone,

Well I finally got access back just today, so sorry for the late reply.

Thank you all for the recommendations. I am happy to read the fiction and non-fiction books. I will be writing them all down and either getting them out from the library or buying them if I can find them in shops here.

Thanks again.

Annie
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There are a lot of Castles in Wales. I have just Googled "Welsh Castles" Books and came up with -

Welsh Castles (It's Wales) by Geraint Roberts.

Although I haven't read it, it does look quite interesting.

Hope that you can get it in NZ

Tess

Thanks Tess. Will look for that one too.

Annie
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