Hosts of Rebecca: The Mortymer Trilogy Book Two

Other than "How Green Was My Valley",I can't remember reading anything else about Wales.Though I have read extensively about mid-19 th century struggles in Ireland , Canada ,other parts of the British Empire,and the US.However,often wondered what went on in Wales during the Irish Famine and the Civil War in the US. Well,this novel gives an excellent idea of the struggles the Welsh people went through fighting the injustices and greed laid on them by the upper classes and absentee landlords.As in other countries, when the wealthy used the system to put down the common people ,it was necessary to take the law into their own hands,and at a terrible price,to obtain justice.In Wales ,tollroads were set up to squeeze unfair money from the many by the few.As in other similar situations ,rather than be subjected to these injustices the people fought back against their oppressors and the government.Many died,were imprisoned,exiled,shot indiscriminately and even fled for their lives,many to North America. Cordell is a good writer and keeps the story moving,but it is a bit difficult when he uses words and expressions one is not familiar with in North America. This book is part two of a trilogy,part one being "Rape of the Fair Country" and part three is "Song of the Earth" I did not read part one and found that part two stands by itself pretty well;but plan to read the rest of the trilogy. In many ways this book reminded me of "Gone With The Wind" by Mitchell and "The Great Hunger" by Cecil Woodham -Smith.