When Was Wales? A History of the Welsh

by Gwyn Alfred Williams

When has Wales been able to describe itself as an independent nation and will it ever be able to do so in the future? The question of national identity has affected the Welsh throughout their history. Drawing on myth, legend and poetry and on the talents and ambitions of soldiers, labourers, politicians and churchmen the author tells the story of the Welsh with an understanding of his fellow countrymen.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 1985

About the author

Gwyn Alfred "Alf" Williams was a Welsh historian particularly known for his work on Antonio Gramsci and Francisco Goya as well as on Welsh history.

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hell of a lot of medieval stuff to get through, but really comes alive when he hits the 18th century or so. Wish there was more history like this being written! Serious, accessible, unashamedly Marxist without feeling the need to genuflect to seven different theorists and dress up fairly straightforward stuff in American academic mystification.

It's written in 1985, as the miners strike was being broken and you really feel it. Williams was not even particularly confident that Wales would continue to exist. Funny that he couldn't see a future for the place, but he points to it all through the final chapters. Worth your time!

[Daniel Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, one I sincerely wish I had read years ago but very grateful that I have done so now. Great insight into what has shaped Wales over the last millennium or so. The last chapter that he would have wrote in 1985 or so really does paint a bleak picture for Wales as a country, would love to think that he would have some more cause for optimism that things are starting to turn a corner if he saw Wales today.

[Alex Still · Rating 4 out of 5]

A roller-coaster ride through two millennia of Welsh history, packed with detail and the author's rich, fiery language that leaves the reader catching his or her breath. While 'Gwyn Alf' clearly writes from a Marxist, soft-nationalist perspective, he has an ever-so-fading hope for the future of Wales in the age of Thatcherism (this book was published in 1985) and he sadly did not live to see devolution (he died in 1995) or the re-assertion of Wales' national identity - continually evolving - that has arguably occurred since then. I'd be interested to know what he would make of Brexit if he were alive today. A thoroughly recommended read, although I'd advise you familiarise yourself with at least a basic outline of Welsh history first of all.

[Mabon Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books on generic Welsh history. Gwyn Alf has a unique writing style, and is not afraid to include humor and, dare one say, bias in his works.

[Geraint Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly enlightening book. His closing statements are as true today as they were when he wrote it.

[Rhys · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent summary of how Wales as a nation came to be. Gwyn Alf's poetic writing style draws you in and keeps you there. Was seriously hard to put down.

[Nigel Maskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly thin on materialist conception of history given that was written by a Marxist.

[Gaabriel Becket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic history of the region of Britain we call Wales' by one of Wales greatest historians. I learned a LOT I didn't know and expanded views on things I had heard of or read about elsewhere. Gwyn Williams put events in context in ways I didn't and probably couldn't have, to give a great, expanded history of Wales. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn Welsh history and how it effects what Wales is today. A great book!

[Ceri Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Gwyn A. Williams' writing but to study and use him as a secondary source is infuriating!

[Billy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of Wales with fiery prose and a Marxist tinge from the man who introduced Gramsci to the British left.