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A History of Wales Paperback – Illustrated, 25 Jan. 2007

by John Davies (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 487 ratings
on any 4 Qualifying items | Terms
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Stretching from the Ice Ages to the present day, this masterful account traces the political, social and cultural history of the land that has come to be called Wales.

Spanning prehistoric hill forts and Roman ruins to the Reformation, the Industrial Revolution and the series of strikes by Welsh miners in the late twentieth century, this is the definitive history of an enduring people: a unique and compelling exploration of the origins of the Welsh nation, its development and its role in the modern world. This new edition brings this remarkable history into the new era of the Welsh Assembly.

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  1. Print length
    784 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Publication date
    25 Jan. 2007
  5. Dimensions
    12.95 x 3.3 x 19.74 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0140284753
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140284751
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About the Author

John Davies is a native of the Rhondda. He was educated in schools in Treorci, Bwlchllan and Tregaron and at University College, Cardiff, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He taught at the University Colleges of Swansea and Aberystwyth and was for eighteen years the Warden of Neuadd Pantycelyn, Aberystwyth. His other publications include Cardiff and the Marquesses of Bute, Hanes Cymru, Broadcasting and the BBC in Wales, The Making of Wales, The Celts and Cardiff: a Pocket Guide. He is the consultant editor of The Encyclopaedia of Wales. His wife comes from Blaenau Gwent and they have two daughters and two sons.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 25 Jan. 2007
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised ed.
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 784 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140284753
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140284751
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 532 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.95 x 3.3 x 19.74 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 60,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 487 ratings

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John Davies

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
487 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this history book fascinating and enjoyable to read, with an easy-to-follow writing style. The book provides a great overview of Welsh history, with one customer noting how it maintains many aspects of Welsh culture. They appreciate its comprehensive content, with one describing it as a seminal work on the subject written concisely. However, several customers mention that the print size is too small.

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ReadabilityHistoryReadableBook contentInformation contentPrint size
27 customers mention ‘Readability’27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable to read, with one customer noting it is particularly recommended for both students and laypeople.

"This is a big read and have not read anything as comprehensive or intense since school...." Read more

"Great read but bad for reference purposes..." Read more

"This book has been a joy to read and I learned so much. It has been well researched and well written. I wish I had read it earlier in my life." Read more

"...academic history books but it is definitely a respected book that deserves reading...." Read more

19 customers mention ‘History’19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's comprehensive coverage of Welsh history, starting with the palaeolithic era, and its references to broader historical contexts. One customer notes it's particularly valuable for those with Welsh ancestry.

"I loved the pal-eolithic start and into the Roman period...." Read more

"A superb work, encompassing the history of the British Isles before the Roman and Anglo-Saxon immigrants, and continuing with the place of Wales..." Read more

"...This is a fascinating book and shows that Welshness has remained a living force despite the centuries of oppression and neglect by London-based..." Read more

"This work by historian John Davies is the definitive history of Wales and to some extent, the British Isles...." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Readable’11 positive3 negative

Customers find the book very readable, appreciating its easy-to-follow style and enjoyable writing. One customer notes that it is a seminal work on the subject written concisely, while another mentions its excellent English translation.

"...It has been well researched and well written. I wish I had read it earlier in my life." Read more

"This is the seminal work on the subject written concisely, clearly and interestingly throughout whether in the original Welsh or inits excellent..." Read more

"...It is very readable and highly recommended for both students and laypeople. It is also available in the Welsh language." Read more

"...Every page is crammed with facts and dates which makes it difficult to read and understand if, like me, you begin at the beginning and work your..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Book content’9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comprehensive, with one customer noting it is extremely well researched and includes good maps.

"Very comprehensive with strong opinions, this is a great introduction to Welsh history...." Read more

"...So if you want to know about Wales,this is the book to answer all your questions." Read more

"This book has been extremely well researched and the writers style is easy to follow...." Read more

"...A comprehensive history, which I've never seen before. A great addition to my library." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Information content’7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, with one customer noting it is well researched and written by a historian for ordinary people.

"...It has been well researched and well written. I wish I had read it earlier in my life." Read more

"...LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT THE EVOLVING WALES.JOHN DAVIES PROVIDES A VERY DETAILED ACCOUNT,NOT ONLY OF WALES,BUT THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER CELTIC NATIONS IN..." Read more

"Written by a historian for ordinary people Accessible language, interestingly crafted and a pleasure to read...." Read more

"A bit too wordy, but full of information about our wonderful country" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Print size’0 positive4 negative

Customers find the print size of the book too small.

"...margin on the left pages and the left margin on the right pages is far too small...." Read more

"...Secondly the book has no headings. It's pages and pages of small text with only very broad chapters to break it up...." Read more

"...The print is a bit small in this paperback version so some people might prefer a hardback copy as it's usually got larger text." Read more

"Good book but the print is tiny." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Margaret Henderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent description of the history of Wales
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book has been a joy to read and I learned so much. It has been well researched and well written. I wish I had read it earlier in my life.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Rain Bow
    4.0 out of 5 stars History of Wales by John Davies - heavy going but crammed with information
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am not a historian and so reading history books doesn't come easy to me. This book by John Davies is no exception. Every page is crammed with facts and dates which makes it difficult to read and understand if, like me, you begin at the beginning and work your way through the history of Wales.

    I am only half way through the book at the moment. I did find much of the first part to be quite dry and difficult to get through - after all, Davies begins the history almost at the beginning of recorded time! But as I have progressed through, the pages have become more readable, likely because by around the 1500s there was far more written documentation that could be referred to.

    For someone wanting detail, I think this book is a must since it appears that nothing much could have been left out (judging by my reading up to around the 1700s so far). There is little author comment, the emphasis is on reporting the facts from research, which is the intention of a history book. As a starter book to learn about Welsh history this might not be the best for someone who isn't versed in academic history books but it is definitely a respected book that deserves reading.

    My only fault here is not with the author at all, it is with the publisher. The right margin on the left pages and the left margin on the right pages is far too small. Given the sheer size of this volume (over 700 pages) and with the font being quite small, those margins that meet in the middle of the book should have been larger since it can be a strain trying to read the page edges, especially if you don't want to damage the spine.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • llewellyn ap hywel
    5.0 out of 5 stars A monumental book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A superb work, encompassing the history of the British Isles before the Roman and Anglo-Saxon immigrants, and continuing with the place of Wales within those later administrations. The political aspect are particularly interesting, as is the way in which the remaining ancestors of the ancient Brythonic peoples (the Welsh) fought to retain that identity. Strongly recommended to those who believe that history began in 1066.....
    4 people found this helpful
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  • cymro
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete History of Wales
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is the seminal work on the subject written concisely, clearly and interestingly throughout whether in the original Welsh or inits excellent English translation. No library whether municipal or private should be without it and it should be advisory reading for anyone who has a problem understanding why Wales and England are not perceived as the same by the Welsh. it was particularly well received by a Dutch Psychologist acquaintance.
    The latest edition is totally up to date.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Steve G
    5.0 out of 5 stars As good as Wales in all ways
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Although I am English,I lived in Wales for four years and have lots of friends there. I lived in the Rhondda'Valleys', and found the place and the people were first class. I think you have to go live in a place to know it,and not listen to veiws people have! that have never been there. I can say I enjoyed every minute of it,and at times I wish I had stayed there.
    I gave my copy of this book to a friend of mine who was moving to the USA,and have just got myself another copy from Amazon. It doesn't surprise me that this book has nothing but five star reviews',and I am not going to change that,in fact I would give it ten stars if I could.
    It's a book that I am proud to own,-Proud,like Wales and the people that live in it-.
    It's not a book that you can read in a day. But then again Wales was not built in a day. A bit like Rome eh?.
    So if you want to know about Wales,this is the book to answer all your questions.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • John Fitzpatrick
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wales - the Unknown Country
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've always felt a bit sorry for the Welsh as their proximity to England has put them at a disadvantage to the other Celtic nations - Ireland separated by the sea and Scotland separated by sparsely-inhabited northern England.

    Wales has three large English cities within driving distance - Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham - and has been legally and administratively annexed to England for over 400 years.

    It has also attracted English immigrants in a way that Scotland never has thereby diluting the ethnic composition in many areas. Figures from this book show that Welsh-born people make up 1% of the population of England while English-born people make up 20% of the population of Wales.

    As a result, many Welsh people themselves developed inferiority complexes and felt they were incapable of running their own affairs.

    The same was true in Scotland for much of the 20th century but fortunately all this has changed and Scotland is now heading towards independence and, hopefully, encouraging the Welsh to see that it is possible to emerge from under the English shadow.

    Welsh nationalism has been held back by a number of factors such as the feeling by some non-Welsh speakers that Plaid Cymru was against their interests or the Labour Party belief that nationalism went against international socialism.

    The Welsh have not only provided leaders at UK level, i.e. Lloyd George, Ernest Bevan and Neil Kinnock but have elected English-born MPs like Michael Foot and Jim Callaghan to represent them in London.

    This is a fascinating book and shows that Welshness has remained a living force despite the centuries of oppression and neglect by London-based governments.

    The Welsh have maintained many aspects of their culture - particularly their language - to a greater extent than the Irish and Scots.

    It might be asking too much to expect someone who is not Welsh to read 700 pages of the country's history which, at times, is a bit heavy going. However, at a time when relations among all the countries in the British Isles are changing, it is worth the effort to learn about the country that is least known* even though it was home to the original Britons.

    *That is unless you regard Cornwall as a separate country too.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • C. R. WARE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Standard textbook
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This work by historian John Davies is the definitive history of Wales and to some extent, the British Isles. It is very readable and highly recommended for both students and laypeople. It is also available in the Welsh language.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • MissBeetle
    5.0 out of 5 stars found in wales, bought @ home
    Reviewed in Germany on 24 August 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Been to Wales this summer and loved it! I discovered this book in a remote castle-shop but decided to check at home if there were any better books about welsh history. (My already stuffed suitcase was grateful. ;-) I found out that there aren't all that many, so I sticked to this one (very cheap 'cause a little used) and am very happy.
    John Davies writes well, with lots of infomation but not overwhelmingly so. The book is easy to read and just about all I wanted.
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  • eunyoungheo
    5.0 out of 5 stars GORAU CHWARAE CYD CHWARAE
    Reviewed in Japan on 20 December 2018
    Verified Purchase
    innit
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  • Gregory Christiano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Received as scheduled and in great condition as advertised
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 March 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The content is what I expected. In depth historical information, comprehensive and well written. Great book to add to my library.
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  • F. W. Orde Morton
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Definitive History of Wales and the Welsh
    Reviewed in Canada on 10 November 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A remarkable achievement. The history and pre-history of what is now Wales is covered from the first humans to the 21st century. All aspects of Welsh history -- political, economic, religious, linguistic, cultural -- are given ample treatment. This makes for a long book, but the writing is enlivened by humour, and the reader will reach the end understanding Wales and the Welsh much better. The author's balanced judgments, refusing to jump on bandwagons past or present, are notable. Now that the future of the UK hangs in the balance, this is a highly relevant and rewarding book.
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  • Adrien
    5.0 out of 5 stars Une très bonne introduction a l'histoire du Pays de Galle.
    Reviewed in France on 3 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Ce livre couvre une grande période, et ne rentre donc pas dans les détails. Néanmoins il permet d'avoir une vision général sur l'histoire Galloise (ce que je cherchais).
    Report