Welsh Journals

Brynyffynnon settlement, therefore, comprised only his long-suffering brother, together with Richard's still longer-suffering wife and their baby daughter. Dr. Shepperson unravels the almost incredible complexity of the claims and counter-claims to the land of the settlement, and the legal actions which ensued. Welsh historians will, indeed, feel gratified to have this valuable contribution, which has come to them from so unexpected a place as Nevada. DAVID WILLIAMS. Aberystwyth. HELYNT Y 'BECA: THE REBECCA RIOTs. By Eirwen V. Davies. University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 1961. Pp. 88 2s. 6d. It is a commonplace to write of the fourth and fifth decades of the nineteenth century as a period of developing industry and growing railways. Often, too little attention is paid to the reverse side of the coin-agrarian life and attempts to modify agriculture to meet the changing economic circumstances. Possibly this is because the industrial unrest of the period took a more violent and vocal form. Nevertheless, something of the former's problems becomes evident when we examine the complaints made at the time of the Rebecca Riots. These problems, present to some degree throughout England and Wales, became acute in the shires of south-west Wales and produced these riots. It is now six years since Professor David Williams produced his comprehensive study of this problem. The author of this present book has sought to take many of Professor Williams's ideas and to present them at a level of explanation suited to the pre-adolescent child. Her attempt has been very largely successful. The original Welsh text is accompanied by an English translation, and both are illustrated by maps and quotations from original sources. Also, no attempt is made to gloss over the complexity of the problem and to limit discussion to the mere surface causes of unrest. This is not to say the book is faultless. Several inaccuracies occur- most notably the rendering of John Johnes's name as John Jones. However, the main criticism arises from the nature of the book rather than the deficiency of the author. It was originally written for a National Eisteddfod competition and the result has been an unnecessary, and at times misleading, emphasis on the words 'Wales' and 'Welsh'. Frequently Wales appears to be equated with the shires of south-west Wales or else with the whole of England and Wales. Despite these criticisms the book remains a welcome addition to the literature available for schoolchildren on Welsh history. Many teachers will, no doubt, find it a useful aid. JOHN VODDEN. Aberystwyth.