Welsh Journals

property. The incidence of violent crime appears to have increased since the 1980s, though probably less spectacularly than the popular impression. Yet the historical evidence deployed by Jones also reveals that some extremely disorderly, rough and violent districts existed in south Wales in 1900, and suggests further that the overall scale of violence and disorder has actually declined over the century, and that domestic threat has always been greater than the threat of assault by a stranger. David Jones set out to write this book when he was told that he was terminally ill with cancer; he never had time to prepare the footnotes, though the bibliography is exhaustive both in its primary and secondary references. The book stands, not only as an example of meticulous and stimulating social history exploring questions which, hitherto, have been largely ignored, but also as a testament to Jones's courage and determina- tion. In both respects it provides an example to us all. CLIVE EMSLEY The Open University The following works have been received: Michael Lynch, China from Empire to People's Republic, 1900-49 (Hodder and Stoughton, 1996, pp. 152, £ 5.99) Nick Pelling, The Habsburg Empire, 1815-1918 (Hodder and Stoughton, 1996, pp. 132, £ 5.99) John Lawer, Stagnation and Reform: the USSR, 1964-91 (Hodder and Stoughton, 1997, pp. 134, £ 6.25) Alan Farmer, Reconstruction and the Results of the American Civil War (Hodder and Stoughton, 1997, pp. 159, £ 6.25) In the 'Access to History' series edited by Keith Randell Gwen Emyr, Sally Jones, Rhodd Duw i Charles (Gwasg Efengylaidd Cymru, Penybont-ar-Ogwr, tt. 53, £ 4.99) Neil de Marco and Richard Radway, The Twentieth Century. A World Transformed, 1900-1995 (Hodder and Stoughton Educational, 1997, pp. 234, C 11.99). A very attractively illustrated narrative for the GCSE World History syllabuses, fullest on the inter-war years. Living Proof. A Local History Actvity Pack (Hodder and Stoughton for Channel Four Learning, 1997, £ 29.70 + VAT). An 'activity pack' for younger pupils studying the national curriculum. K. 0. M.