[A Concise History of Wales (Cambridge Concise Histories)] [By: Jenkins, Geraint H.] [January, 2007]

Cambridge Concise Histories

by Geraint H. Jenkins

Based on historical research and debates about Wales and Welshness, this volume offers an authoritative and accessible account of the period from Neanderthal times to the opening of the Senedd, the home of the National Assembly for Wales, in 2006. Within a remarkably brief and stimulating compass, Geraint H. Jenkins explores the emergence of Wales as a nation, its changing identities and values, and the transformations its people experienced and survived throughout the centuries. In the face of seemingly overwhelming odds, the Welsh never reconciled themselves to political, social and cultural subordination, and developed ingenious ways of maintaining a distinctive sense of their otherness. The book ends with the coming of political devolution and the emergence of a greater measure of cultural pluralism. Professor Jenkins's lavishly illustrated volume provides enthralling material for scholars, students, general readers, and travellers to Wales.

Genres: History, Travel, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Geraint Huw Jenkins was a Welsh historian and academic who specialized in the history of Wales. He was Professor of Welsh History at the Aberystwyth University (then University College of Wales, Aberystwyth) from 1990 to 1993, when he became Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. In 2009, he retired from academia and was appointed Professor Emeritus of Welsh History at the University of Wales.

Reviews

[Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as preparation for a trip to Wales. Though I was getting into a dull textbook on Wales, but was surprised by how easy and compelling this was to read. The author tears through the scope of history with a wink and a more lighthearted tone. After having visited Wales, I can see this is in keeping with how the Welsh conduct themselves. What’s fascinating about this land is that it always seems to be trying to define itself. Even though it is considered a nation, Wales was never a unified state like Scotland, and their sense of unity really comes from their defense against English rule. While it is heartening to see the Welsh try to preserve their heritage and especially their language, these steps might be a losing battle.
But hopefully works like these will help outsiders realize how much history these 8,000 square miles pack in that is worthy of remembrance.

[Jan Jørgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

God bog om Wales som kultur og udviklingen af denne kultur og den historie.

[Amanda Borys · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought concise meant short, to the point. Apparently it means boring.

And if you spend the start of the book disparaging early Welsh writers for fantasizing and glorifying the early (pre-Norman) history of Wales, why would you go back and keep comparing the later history to what they had written?

[Matthew Carney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, accessible read covering a great deal of history in 300 pages. Good introduction to Wales. Covers political, social, and religious themes

[Gary Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a perfect read for someone wanting to understand the history of Wales without needing to read volumes. The author is able to cover all the critical points in the long history of this country and ensure the reader comes away understanding the struggles the Welsh have endured. For someone who’s parents were both Welsh, one from Colwyn Bay and one from Cardiff, and who spent his teenage years growing up in a small village in North Wales having moved from
Merseyside I now have a much better appreciation of the country I lived in for 6 years and visited to see my parents to this day. An appreciation I could never have had, nor wanted, as a teenager who felt thrown into an alien environment.

[Joelle Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough review up until the end of the twentieth century

The book ends with the start of Home Rule in 2006, which means that current history is not available. However, a very thorough review of Wales' history is given for the centuries before then - from the original Britons and Roman rule and progressing.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Jenkins’s history of Wales, its politics, people, languages, cultures, although concise is full of information about the country from its earliest inhabitants up to 2006. It is quite an accomplishment. I highly recommend it.

[Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful if you have a need of knowing Welsh history.

[Chloe John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting in certain parts but very long winded in others

[Don Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may not be nearly as long as John Davies' history of Wales, which I considered reading; but I found A Concise History of Wales a perfectly helpful book in understanding the history and culture my best friend comes from.

[East Bay J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a quarter Welsh (or something in that percentage range), I’ve found myself more and more interested in the history of the country. After searching a bit online, I chose Geraint H. Jenkins as my guide.

Jenkins’ A Concise History Of Wales is, in fact, a concise history of Wales and a well written one at that. Definitely better written and more engaging than the history books I had to read in school. This isn’t what I’d call a page turner, but it was a fun enough way to learn about Wales.

Did you know the Welsh are descended from “the oldest and most authentic peoples of the island of Britain?” Did you know Welshman Robert Recorde invented the “equals” sign? Did you know the first load carrying steam locomotive was invented by Welshman Richard Trevithick? Anthony Hopkins is Welsh. So is T. E. Lawrence of Lawrence Of Arabia fame. Henry Morton Stanley (real name John Rowlands), the man who uttered those infamous words, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume,” was Welsh, too.

That paragraph felt like a Reading Rainbow book review.

Welsh poet Gwerful Mechain, in response to the chauvinistic Cywydd y Gal (A Poem To The Penis), wrote her Cywydd y Cedor (A Poem To The Female Genitals) and could hold her own against misogynist male poets of her time. She sounds like my kinda’ Welsh lady!

I love this quote from the book: “It is not so much that the Welsh turned against Christianity; they simply preferred to do other things.” It makes so much sense!

So, you see, the history of Wales has no shortage of interesting people, places and events. Like the Daughters of Rebecca, men who dressed as women a tore down toll booths and shamed adulterers, thieves and pilferers using the “wooden horse” (Ouch!) during the Rebecca Riots. Jenkins does a fine job of putting the events in the political and sociological framework of the time without boring the reader to tears.

And everyone is going to have to forgive me for skipping a lot of the chapter Wales Awakening?, which dealt, by and large, with politics. Politics in Wales are just as boring as politics in the U.S. Who knew?

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What didn't I learn from this book? What American know much of anything about Wales? Geraint H. Jenkins does an excellent job of taking a potentially dry topic and making it interesting and occasionally amusing. Jenkins also does a great job of presenting each era thematically so that even if details are hard to remember, the reader leaves with a sense of trends and major changes throughout the development of Wales. Overall I found the history of Wales intriguing, confused, and full of vigor. I came away a little saddened by what I read, especially because of general lack of a strong Welsh identity.

[Andy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for someone looking for a general history of Wales. I have only read a couple of other Welsh histories; each of those just dealt with a specific era, so I can't really compare this book with any others on the subject. I can say it is well written and while not a "page turner", it retained by interest and provided a good feel for the evolution of Wales.