The Matter of Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country

This is a beautiful work, ever fresh, on how the country thinks, it's significant landmarks, it's people and their historic language. Jan Morris is an exceptional, gifted writer who can interest people in a country's finer points. The hardcover version, which I purchased from a private online seller, is so much nicer than the paperback, including a few strange pictures taken by the author. The book may be considered travel writing by some, but it is so much more. I would compare it to Pablo Neruda's Memoirs. So colourful and deeply felt.

Jan Morris is a prolific writer, whose books provide the reader with a window on the world. Half English, half Welsh, she has adopted the latter culture as a focus for her sense of belonging.The Wales she writes about is a an enigma. It is barely understood internationally. Most outsiders to Britain have some concept of an area of England where people work in dreary coalmines and sing in male voice choirs. The fact that Wales has never been part of England would surprise many (even if it is tied to its umbilical cord by way of Henry the VIII's undemocractic Act of Union in 1536).To be Welsh is to stand up for what you are for, not so much of what you are against. This requires a particular level of emotion and national passion that Morris describes exquisitely in her book. Her story of Wales is one of celtic dreams and folklore that blends in seaminglessly with a modern Wales, partly anglicized and yet distinct despite 500 years of English domination. Owain Glyndwr, a Welsh hero, features prominently, as do other Welsh figures of the past. Some Welsh traditions are exposed as 'fakes' (however much loved today) whilst facets of Welsh history, unknown to many in Wales themselves, are uncovered.Morris could be criticised for being too much a romantic. However her writing defies criticism, it being both deep and sincere as well as adroit and precise. A highly recommended book for those with a curosity for Wales.