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Aberystwyth In his fine inaugural lecture at Aberystwyth, History and Tradition in Britain in the Early Middle Ages (University of Wales, Abersytwyth, 1996, pp.24), Professor David P. Kirby deals with the complex theme of established historical fact and oral or received tradition in early medieval historiography, focusing particularly on Bede's Historia, Asser's Life of Alfred and the Lindistarne Life of Cuthbert. His treatment of the methodological problems of oral history makes this powerful analysis of interest to all historians, medieval and modern alike. After four decades, it would be reasonable to expect a new history of tinplate to replace Walter Minchinton's book of 1957. Such an enterprise, however, needs to be justified by significant shifts in interpretation and/or a substantial filling out of the story. Twenty by Fourteen: A History of the South Wales Tinplate Industry, 1700-1961, by Paul Jenkins (Gomer Press, Llandysul, 1995, pp. 269, illus. £ 15.00) does not match these requirements. The thematic treatment of the three central chapters on organization, processes and industrial relations is in each case patchy and episodic, making it difficult to follow the story. The fundamental technical and company reconstructions of the inter-war and immediate post-war years are, for example, dealt with in just a dozen pages of text. Against this, there are many positive features. The volume is beautifully produced, lavishly illustrated, well written and yields occasional new insights, like the brief review (pp. 157-9) of early-twentieth-century investigations into the appallingly low life expectancy of tinplate workers. The publication is supported by British Steel-Tinplate and the royalties are to go to the Paediological Surgical Unit of the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff. JOHN WILLIAMS SHORT NOTICES