Welsh Journals

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Dduwioldeb (1709) and Llyfr y Resolusion (1711), together with his own Welsh-English dictionary, Y Gymraeg yn ei Disgleirdeb (1688), and his Carolau a Dyriau Duwiol (1696), marked his distinct contribution, not only to the growth of literacy, but also to those circumstances which made the spread of Methodist influences possible in a later generation. He also published a number of devotional manuals and another edition of the Book of Common Prayer in 1687. Thomas Jones lived in what is, by now, generally regarded as a spectacular age in the social development of Wales. In recent years, historians (such as Dr. Jenkins himself) have revealed that the period between the Restoration and the Methodist Revival was far from being spiritually inert and somnolent. Hence the author argues that Jones's contribution to the cultural and religious development of Wales has been grossly-underestimated by literary scholars and historians alike. Indeed, as Dr. Jenkins has amply demonstrated, his activity laid the foundations of the literary revival, an achievement which has normally been attributed to London-Welshmen in the eighteenth century. The period after 1660 saw the restoration of monarchy and its allied institutions, including the Anglican church, and Jones was himself a fervent defender of the establishment, counselling his readers, wherever possible, to practise obedience and observe good order. He continually stressed the need to maintain order in society, his object being not only to save souls, but also to implant political and social values. Furthermore, a remarkable feature of his varied publications is his ability to handle both religious themes and popular superstitious beliefs with equal competence and to appeal practically to all sections of the Welsh-speaking community. The true value of Dr. Jenkins's volume lies in the fact that he has portrayed this largely enigmatic figure against the background of his own age and has shown how valuable his literary activity was in view of the significant developments which were reshaping Welsh society in the pre- Revival period. In this respect the work marks a further contribution to our understanding of a theme with which Dr. Jenkins has been actively engaged in recent years. It is a stimulating and readable volume and the style and presentation are both commendable. A few misprints, however, do appear; also the first map (p. 2) is not particularly informative and the footnotes would have been more suitably placed at the bottom of each page. Such points, however, are minor when it is considered that it is an excellent volume on the 'father of Welsh printing' and a welcome addition to the small but happily increasing number of Welsh-language contributions to our nation's literary history. J. GWYNFOR JONES Cardiff THE JACOBITE RISINGS IN BRITAIN, 1689-1746. By Bruce Lenman. Eyre Methuen, 1980. Pp. 320. £ 12.00. This is an unromantic history of a subject well-known for inspiring sentimentality and nostalgia. Dr. Lenman brings refreshing scepticism