Hope and Heartbreak: A Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1776-1871University of Wales Press, 2005 - 559 pages "Hope and Heartbreak looks in an entirely new way at the social history of Wales between the years 1776 and 1871. This innovative book challenges a large number of generally held views about Wales, and tries to offer an alternative history of the country's idiosyncrasies and contradictions. To do this a wide range of evidence is considered to present the ambitions and anxieties which drove and destroyed Welsh people." "Russell Davies's study ranges far and wide, from landlords to peasants, rich and poor, in the north and the south. Diet and housing, disease and death, rural festivals, prisons and mental hospitals, work and worries, fear and anger, love and lust, wizards and wonders, bastards and ballads and happiness and humour are only a few of the topics covered in this all-encompassing social history. The tensions beneath the facade of family life, the vigour of prostitution and pornography and the private world of the individual are investigated. Using the life experiences of individuals, Hope and Heartbreak opens up the hidden world of the people of Wales." "The book asks a range of questions which are new to Welsh history. Was Wales a land of passionless women and pure men, or were there passionate sensualists amongst the pious saints? What made the Welsh fearful, tearful, happy, lonely, self-conscious, anxious, bored, hysterical and violent? How did they behave as capitalists, colonists and conquerors? How can one make sense of their religious doubts and disputes? Did religion lead to a decline in magic? There is also a detailed examination of the joie de vivre, the forgotten humour and the unique flavour of Welsh laughter."--BOOK JACKET. |
Contents
The Reshaping of Everyday Life Travellers Tales People | 29 |
Ambition Adventure and Anxiety Hierarchy and Hegemony | 83 |
Life in the Shadow | 151 |
Copyright | |
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Hope and Heartbreak: A Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1776-1871 Russell Davies No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
A. H. Dodd Aberystwyth agricultural Anglesey August ballads Brecon Britain Caernarfon Caernarfonshire Caernarvon and Denbigh Cambrian Cardiff Cardiff and Merthyr Cardiganshire Carmarthen Journal Carmarthenshire Ceredigion cholera church coal copper court crime Cymreig Cymru Dafydd David J. V. Jones Davies death Denbigh Herald Despite early nineteenth century Edwards eighteenth century England Evans farmer fear girls Glamorgan Griffith historians Hughes Ibid idem Ieuan industrial J. V. Jones January Jenkins John labour ladies land Lewis Library of Wales lives Llandysul Llanrwst London Mary Merthyr Guardian Merthyr Tydfil Methodists mewn minister Monmouth Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Merlin Morgan murder National Library Neath Newport North Wales North Wales Chronicle oedd Owen Pembrokeshire prostitutes religion religious remarkable reported Revd Richard Robert rural Seren Gomer sexual social South Wales Street Swansea Thomas town tradition Victorian wedi Welsh history Welsh society wife Williams women Wrexham