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Why Wales Never Was: The Failure of Welsh Nationalism
Written as an act of protest in a Welsh-speaking community in north-west Wales, Why Wales Never Was combines a devastating analysis of the historical failure of Welsh nationalism with an apocalyptic vision of a non-Welsh future. It is the ‘progressive’ nature of Welsh politics and the ‘empire of the civic’, which rejects both language and culture, that prevents the colonised from rising up against his colonial master. Wales will always be a subjugated nation until modes of thought, dominant since the nineteenth century, are overturned.
Originally a comment on Welsh acquiescence to Britishness at the time of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the book’s emphasis on the importance of European culture is a parable for Brexit times. Both deeply rooted in Welsh culture and European in scope, Why Wales Never Was brings together history, philosophy and politics in a way never tried before in Wales. First published in Welsh in 2015, Why Wales Never Was affirms the author’s reputation as one of the most radical writers in Wales today.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
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About the author
Simon Brooks
20 booksDr Simon Brooks (born 1971) is a Welsh academic and writer. He is a former editor of the Welsh language current affairs magazine Barn (1996 - 2007), as well as founding co-editor of the Welsh language cultural magazine Tu Chwith between 1993 and 1996. A collection of his journalism in Barn was published in 2009. He is also a founding member of the Welsh language pressure group Cymuned, for whom he was a prominent media spokesman between 2001 and 2004, and whose central office he ran. He was a lecturer at the School of Welsh, Cardiff University.
His book Pam na fu Cymru (2015) was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year award in the non-fiction category. The English edition, Why Wales Never Was was published in 2017.
His book Pam na fu Cymru (2015) was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year award in the non-fiction category. The English edition, Why Wales Never Was was published in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 4, 2019
An interesting and erudite look at why Welsh statehood floundered in the 19th and 20th centuries when so many other nations became viable, independent countries.
Brooks blames liberalism largely for the failure, citing the tyranny of majority rule which pervades such points of view, thus marginalising and ignoring cultural minorities.
A bit too academic at times which might make it inaccessible to some, this is nevertheless worth reading for those interested in Welsh nationalism and its struggles.
Brooks blames liberalism largely for the failure, citing the tyranny of majority rule which pervades such points of view, thus marginalising and ignoring cultural minorities.
A bit too academic at times which might make it inaccessible to some, this is nevertheless worth reading for those interested in Welsh nationalism and its struggles.
April 23, 2024
Don't be fooled by the title. This book contains extremely powerful arguments for a Welsh nation and the reintroduction of Welsh as a majority language in Wales. The main content of the book focuses on historical failures of the Welsh to guard the country against the influence of the English language and culture.
If you are an English speaking Welsh person reading this, you may find yourself more determined than ever by the end of the book to learn Welsh. However, if you disagree with the idea that Welsh identity and the Welsh language are tied together, then the book could frustrate you. One of the central arguments in the book is that in accepting the idea of 'Britishness' and the English language, large parts of Wales have lost their cultural roots. It's clear that to Brooks, 'British' is a masking term which by extension means 'English'. I agree.
The main weakness of the book is that if it doesn't inspire people to learn Welsh, the book could alienate English speaking Welsh people. Brooks does acknowledge English speaking Welsh people too, but his focus on them is minuscule in comparison with how much he cares about the Welsh speaking Welsh. His punchy, direct argumentative style is necessary in my opinion, because I don't think people can be moved by a 'learn it if you want' delivery style. The text is also written in an academic style, though I think most people will be able to get through it if they're determined enough to hear good arguments.
The book is well researched and the arguments are punchy. Simon Brooks takes us on a detailed timeline of modern Wales and shows us how different political, societal and economical events have caused the decline of the Welsh language. By the end of the book, I had a clear understanding of why liberal policies from both the British liberal parties and also the Welsh liberal parties have been a disaster for Welsh identity.
The Blue Books and discriminative measures taken against Welsh speaking people are discussed, however, Simon Brooks also shows how it has been the Welsh themselves that have been too passive since the 19th century. We learn about other similar minority populations from Europe (the Catalonians, Basques, Czechs), all of whom fought harder than the Welsh to keep their language and cultural identity.
We learn how the Welsh themselves accepted Britishness in return for the richness that comes with the English nation. The other side of that argument is that with the great opportunities that came with learning English, arrived the threat of discrimination for staying Welsh speakers. Historically, greed and the desire for political advancement has stopped Welsh politicians and capitalists from fighting harder for the Welsh language. The Welsh speaking working class weren't powerful enough to shape the future of their country by themselves. It's the failure of the Welsh bourgeoise and petite-bourgeoise of the 19th century to avoid the temptation of assimilation. By reading the book, we see how the failures of the past are continuing into the present day.
I think the book should be more widely read by Welsh people and others interested in Welsh culture. Now it's easier than ever to find excellent resources for learning Welsh. It's the time for people to be riled up enough to actually dedicate some time to learning the language.
If you are an English speaking Welsh person reading this, you may find yourself more determined than ever by the end of the book to learn Welsh. However, if you disagree with the idea that Welsh identity and the Welsh language are tied together, then the book could frustrate you. One of the central arguments in the book is that in accepting the idea of 'Britishness' and the English language, large parts of Wales have lost their cultural roots. It's clear that to Brooks, 'British' is a masking term which by extension means 'English'. I agree.
The main weakness of the book is that if it doesn't inspire people to learn Welsh, the book could alienate English speaking Welsh people. Brooks does acknowledge English speaking Welsh people too, but his focus on them is minuscule in comparison with how much he cares about the Welsh speaking Welsh. His punchy, direct argumentative style is necessary in my opinion, because I don't think people can be moved by a 'learn it if you want' delivery style. The text is also written in an academic style, though I think most people will be able to get through it if they're determined enough to hear good arguments.
The book is well researched and the arguments are punchy. Simon Brooks takes us on a detailed timeline of modern Wales and shows us how different political, societal and economical events have caused the decline of the Welsh language. By the end of the book, I had a clear understanding of why liberal policies from both the British liberal parties and also the Welsh liberal parties have been a disaster for Welsh identity.
The Blue Books and discriminative measures taken against Welsh speaking people are discussed, however, Simon Brooks also shows how it has been the Welsh themselves that have been too passive since the 19th century. We learn about other similar minority populations from Europe (the Catalonians, Basques, Czechs), all of whom fought harder than the Welsh to keep their language and cultural identity.
We learn how the Welsh themselves accepted Britishness in return for the richness that comes with the English nation. The other side of that argument is that with the great opportunities that came with learning English, arrived the threat of discrimination for staying Welsh speakers. Historically, greed and the desire for political advancement has stopped Welsh politicians and capitalists from fighting harder for the Welsh language. The Welsh speaking working class weren't powerful enough to shape the future of their country by themselves. It's the failure of the Welsh bourgeoise and petite-bourgeoise of the 19th century to avoid the temptation of assimilation. By reading the book, we see how the failures of the past are continuing into the present day.
I think the book should be more widely read by Welsh people and others interested in Welsh culture. Now it's easier than ever to find excellent resources for learning Welsh. It's the time for people to be riled up enough to actually dedicate some time to learning the language.
March 3, 2019
Absolutely incredible book, but also quite depressing. The eagerness of much of Wales to give up their language and refuse home rule is truly heartbreaking.
April 13, 2025
Should be compulsory reading for schools across the UK
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews